Gnats Arms Chop Down Braves 3-1 Saturday
Published on May 7, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - 1B Sam Honeck drove in two runs to push the Savannah Sand Gnats past the Rome Braves 3-1 in front of 2,905 fans Saturday night on Pink-in-the-Park night at Historic Grayson Stadium. Savannah pitching has allowed just one run to Rome in the last two games, both Gnats wins.
The Gnats (12-16) grabbed a first inning lead for the second straight night. Saturday, 2B Wilfredo Tovar doubled, advanced to third on a single from LF Cory Vaughn and scored on a sacrifice fly by 3B Aderlin Rodriguez for the early 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning, walks to Vaughn and C Blake Forsythe put two runners on for Honeck. Down 0-2 in the count, Honeck muscled an RBI single to shallow right to chase home Vaughn for a 2-0 Gnats lead.
Savannah starter Ryan Fraser and strong Savannah throwing arms kept the Braves (7-22) off the scoreboard through the first five innings. In all, the Gnats threw out seven Rome runners on the bases Saturday. The Gnats used four outfield assists, one at home plate, two runners caught stealing, one on a pick-off, and a pair of double-plays to neutralize the Braves' runners.
Down 2-0, the Braves scored their only run in the sixth inning. Rome loaded the bases against Fraser with two outs. Fraser then departed in favor of reliever Angel Cuan who bounced the first pitch he threw to allow the runner from third, LF Robert Hefflinger to score to pull the Braves within a run at 2-1. Cuan ended the threat by getting Rome CF Hilton Richardson to line out to right field.
The Gnats answered back with a run in the bottom of the sixth to re-establish a two-run advantage. SS Robbie Shields doubled deep to right-center field and came home on Honeck's RBI single to left field.
Fraser earned the win, his second, for his 5.2 innings of one-run baseball. Ronny Morla worked around a hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to convert his second save in as many nights.
The Gnats will hand the ball to RHP Erik Goeddel (1-1, 3.75) against Rome LHP Ronan Pacheco (0-2, 4.26) Sunday in the final game of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 pm and gates open at 1 pm. The pre-game show on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com begins at 1:50 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2011
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- Intimidators edge Drive on Eveland's walk off single - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Quality Start Wasted in 1-0 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
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