Gnats Beat 'Dogs 11-8 in Regular Season Home Finale
Published on August 30, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA
- The Savannah Sand Gnats rode a seven-run fourth inning past the Charleston RiverDogs to an 11-8 victory in the regular season home finale at Historic Grayson Stadium Tuesday night.
The Gnats (38-27/77-57) set a new season-high for runs in an inning with their seven-run fourth.
The South Atlantic League playoff picture became clearer after Tuesday's results.
The Greenville Drive beat the Augusta GreenJackets 5-3 and the Asheville Tourists edged the Hagerstown Suns 6-5 in 11 innings.
With the Greenville win, the Drive clinched the second-best overall record in the SAL Southern Division.
The Augusta GreenJackets' loss dropped them one game behind the Gnats for first place.
If the Gnats win the second half, they will play the Greenville Drive in the first round of the SAL playoffs.
Both Asheville and Greenville are two games behind the Gnats with five games to play in the regular season. If Augusta, Asheville or Greenville comes back to win the second half, they will be the Gnats' first-round playoff opponent.
The Gnats' did all of their scoring in their seven-run fourth with two outs. In a 2-2 game, catcher Blake Forsythe began the inning with a single, and remained stationed at first with two outs.
At that point, Charleston starter Shane Greene issued four consecutive walks to first load the bases, and then force home two runs.
Greene then hit Albert Cordero to force in the third run of the inning and put Savannah ahead 5-2. That ended Greene's night and the RiverDogs called on reliever Thomas Kahnle.
Joe Bonfe, the first batter Kahnle faced, ended an 11-pitch confrontation with a clean single into right field to drive home two runs to put the Gnats ahead 7-2.
Forsythe then ripped a double down the left field line, his second hit of the inning, to drive home the final two runs of the frame.
Savannah starter Taylor Whitenton (5-4, 2.51) held the 'Dogs (26-39/52-83) to three runs, one earned in five innings.
He is four one-hundredths of a run behind Augusta starter Shawn Sanford (10-9, 2.47) for the League ERA title with one start remaining for both hurlers.
Centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani was 2-4 with a double and a triple, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.
The Gnats are off on Wednesday and begin their final series of the 2011 regular season in Lexington on Thursday evening. The Gnats will send LHP Angel Cuan (10-3, 3.71) against Michael Foltynewicz (5-11, 4.88) Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2011
- Crawdads split doubleheader in Lakewood - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Battle to Extras, Fall Short in Asheville Finale, 6-5 - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats Beat 'Dogs 11-8 in Regular Season Home Finale - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Lakewood Splits Final Two Home Games of Regular Season - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Free Passes Foil 'Dogs Plans for Series Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Squander Lead and Fall 10-7 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Swat 'Jackets 5-3 in Finale at Fluor Field - Greenville Drive
- Legends Top Power in Series Finale - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Missed Connections Prove Costly in Rubber Match - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends Edge Power 4-2 - Lexington Legends
- Eighteen Hits Helps Kannapolis Spoil Braves' Final Home Game - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, August 30 Vs. Charleston - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends' Emilio King named South Atlantic League Player of the Week - Lexington Legends
- Savannah Staff Sweeps South Atlantic League All-Star Team Awards - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Intimidators Playoff Tickets Now Available - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Profar Voted SAL MVP, 'Dads Have Three All-Stars - Hickory Crawdads
- Sanford, Duvall Recieve League Honors - Augusta GreenJackets
- Manzella to be Inducted into Legends Hall of Fame - Lexington Legends
- Gattis Named to SAL Annual Team - Rome Emperors
- Brandon Jacobs Named to 2011 SAL Annual All-Star Team - Greenville Drive
- South Atlantic League Announces 2011 Annual All-Star Team - SAL1
- Intimidators Black, Shoemaker Named to SAL 2011 Annual All-Star Team - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Biddle, Murphy Named to SAL All-Star Team - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
