Gnats claim walk-off winner
June 12, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Jake Eigsti ripped a single into center field for a game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Sand Gnats a thrilling 2-1 win before 2,857 at Historic Grayson Stadium on Thursday night. The victory is the 31st of the season for Savannah, the most since the Sand Gnats won 31 games in the second half of 2005.
In the ninth, Carlos Guzman moved Richard Pena to third on a single to left with one out, setting the stage for Eigsti. The third baseman smashed the walk-off hit into the outfield to end an 0-for-34 drought by Savannah hitters in the series and secure a series spilt and winning homestand for the Gnats (31-36). Austin Hinkle (0-2) surrendered the hit to Eigsti and picked up his second loss.
With the victory, Sand Gnats Manager Donovan Mitchell earned his 100th career win as a manager. He had 69 wins in two seasons with the Kingsport Mets entering this season.
The game was a pitcher's duel, with Maikel Cleto and Alex Cobb exchanging zeroes throughout the early innings. Casey Craig got to Cobb in the first though, blasting his fourth homer of the season, a deep solo-shot over the wall in right to hand Cleto a 1-0 lead.
Cleto held the advantage until the fifth, when Shawn Williams singled in a run to tie it. The Gnats right-hander departed after 7.0 innings, yielding 1 run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. Nick Waechter threw a scoreless eighth before Nick Abel (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
Savannah concludes the first half with a three-game series in Chalreston beginning at 7:05 p.m. Friday. RHP Scott Moviel (5-7, 5.52) takes the ball for the Gnats while RHP Noel Castillo (6-3, 3.33) takes the mound for Charleston. The Gnats return home on Monday, June 23 for Opening Night #2, a Guaranteed Gnats win. For more information, visit www.sandgnats.com or call 912.351.9150.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2008
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- Augusta takes key series from Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdads can't overcome strong pitching performance - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive win again; now won 13 of 15 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats claim walk-off winner - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Grasshoppers take fifth straight - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- 'Jackets take rubber game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns drop close one to Captains - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Power'less against the Grasshoppers - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws blanked in loss - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds drop Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators fall to Legends in series opener - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Cipriano Activated from Disabled List - Columbus Catfish
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- Hoppers to Unveil MegaMascot at Friday Press Conference - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Augusta and Asheville Split Double-Header - Augusta GreenJackets
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