Game One Goes To Sand Gnats
June 25, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - After closing out the first half winning nine of 12, the Sand Gnats (1-0, 36-35) kept things going in the first game of the second half with a, 5-4, win over the RiverDogs in front of 2,015 at Historic Grayson Stadium. Chris Schwinden (4-3) earned the win while Josh Stinson worked a perfect final two innings for his second save of the season.
A sacrifice fly by Jefry Marte in the fourth inning proved to be the winning run for the Georgia boys, who have now won for of their last five versus Charleston. Marte finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Savannah used a four-run first inning to counter a two-run home run by Melky Mesa in the top of the first to take a lead they'd never relinquish. The Gnats sent nine men to the plate in the first getting a two-run double from Sean Ratliff to tie the game. The Gnats took the lead on Kai Gronauer's RBI-single and Raul Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to left to give the Gnats a, 4-2, lead.
Charleston used four straight singles in the second including an RBI-single by Jose Pirela to cut the lead in half.
Mesa kept the âDogs afloat with his second home run of the game in the top of the seventh off reliever Manny Olivares. It is his third multi-homer game of the season and it left a slim one-run margin for Stinson to protect for the final two frames.
Four Gnats had two hits apiece as Rafael Fernandez laced a pair of doubles while Sean Ratliff had a double and a single. Raul Reyes added a pair of singles with a run scored and an RBI.
Robert Carson (4-5, 2.63) gets the start for Savannah in game two of the five-game series facing Charleston's Casey Erickson (3-2, 1.86). For tickets to Friday's fireworks night and more information on this season-long nine game homestand, log on to sandgnats.com or call 912.351.9150.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 25, 2009
- Fausto Carmona Shuts Down Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Rally for Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Culberson Lifts Jackets to Win in 11th - Augusta GreenJackets
- Crawdads Walk Off to 6-5 Win in Second Half Opener - Hickory Crawdads
- Sand Gnats Foil RiverDogs, 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game One Goes To Sand Gnats - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Begin Second Half with 5-4 Loss to Tourists - Greenville Drive
- Tourists Start Second Half Right - Asheville Tourists
- BlueClaws Drop Second Half Opener - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hot Rods Washed Out in Second Half Opener - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Joe Mikulik Named to S.A.L. Hall of Fame - SAL1
- Former Crawdads GM to be inducted into SAL Hall of Fame - Hickory Crawdads
- Manny Banuelos to Pitch in â09 Futures Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- Joe Mikulik Named to S.A.L. Hall of Fame - SAL1
- Evan LeBlanc Added To Sand Gnats Roster - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Wilmer Flores Selected To Play In 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game - Savannah Sand Gnats
- BlueClaws to Host Non-Profit Night July 1st - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Dueling Piano Night Tickets on Sale Today - Hagerstown Suns
- Perez Dazzles at Midsummer Classic - Augusta GreenJackets
- Sucre and Kimbrel Sent to Myrtle Beach - Rome Emperors
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