Gnats Blast Grasshoppers 11-4 Friday
Published on July 8, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA -The Savannah Sand Gnats returned to their winning ways by blasting the Greensboro Grasshoppers 11-4 Friday night at Savannah's Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (13-3/52-33) set a new season-high with 18 hits in the win. The 11 runs the team scored were their most at home in 2011.
Albert Cordero was 5-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and two RBI to lead the Savannah offense. The catcher tied Darrell Ceciliani for the most hits and runs in a game by a Gnat in 2011.
The game was back and forth in the early innings until the Gnats took control with a five-run fourth inning against reliever Holden Sprague. In a 5-4 game in the fourth inning, the top of the order loaded the bases. Cordero and 3B Aderlin Rodriguez each contributed two-run singles to turn a 5-4 Gnats lead into a 9-4 cushion. Joe Bonfe, who was 4-for-5, singled into right to score the final run of the inning for a 10-4 lead. In the sixth inning, Bonfe punched a single into center to drive home Cordero, who had doubled, to complete the game's scoring.
The Gnats scored the first three runs of the game in the second inning. After Savannah loaded the bases, 1B Sam Honeck singled into right to score the game's first run and then Bonfe lined one into left, scoring two more for a 3-0 lead. Honeck left the game in the top of the fourth inning after taking an errant throw off his head, behind his ear.
The Grasshoppers (7-8/47-38) grabbed a short-lived 4-3 lead with a four-run third against Savannah starter Angel Cuan.
However, the Gnats answered right back in their half of the third against Grasshoppers' starter Rett Varner. Blake Forsythe walked and Albert Cordero doubled to put runners at second and third for Rodriguez who singled cleanly into right field to put the Gnats back in front, 5-4.
Cuan finished six innings for the Gnats, yielding little aside from the four runs in the third to improve to 7-1. Adam Kolarek worked the final three innings for his second save. He struck out five and did not give up a run to lower his ERA to 0.95 in 19 innings with the Gnats. Grasshoppers' reliever Holden Sprague took the loss, his first, for allowing six runs on eight hits in an inning and a third.
The Gnats and Grasshoppers play game three of their four-game series Saturday night at 6:05 when Savannah sends RHP Yohan Almonte (3-4, 3.61) to the mound against RHP Jheyson Manzueta (2-8, 7.16). Gates open at 5 pm and the broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com begins at 5:50 pm.
Saturday Night Fireworks presented by KIX96
Stay late for an awesome post-game fireworks display!
South Atlantic League Stories from July 8, 2011
- Augusta beats Asheville - Asheville Tourists
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Two-Out Runs Lead to Second Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Gnats Blast Grasshoppers 11-4 Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Delmarva Outlasts âDogs in Back and Forth Affair, 6-5 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Bullpen tosses four scoreless innings - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Solid Starting Pitching Helps Rome Take Third Straight Win - Rome Emperors
- Legends 2nd Game Suspended; to be Completed Saturday - Lexington Legends
- Lakewood, Kannapolis Rained out on Friday, DH Saturday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hickory Takes First Game of Doubleheader Over Legends 3-1 - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Game Notes: Friday, July 8 Vs. Greensboro - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Tonight's Game Postponed - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Beat Down Postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Weber Activated from DL - Rome Emperors
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