Gnats Comeback Comes up Short in 9-6 Defeat Monday
Published on August 29, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - The Charleston RiverDogs scored six runs in the second inning to push their way past the Savannah Sand Gnats 9-6 at Historic Grayson Stadium in front of 2,091 fans Monday night in the Gnats' second-to-last home game of the 2011 regular season. Down 7-0 in the second inning, the Gnats rallied to put the tying run at third in the fifth inning, but could not draw even with the 'Dogs.
The Gnats' loss coupled with the Augusta GreenJackets' 1-0 win in Greenville puts the 'Jackets, who are 36-26 with a .581 winning percentage, percentage points ahead of the Gnats (37-27/76-57), who have a .578 winning percentage in the second half, for first place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division. The Greenville Drive and the Asheville Tourists are tied for third place in the division, two games behind the Jackets and Gnats with six games to play for all four teams. The Gnats, who won the first half, will face the second half winner in the first round of the South Atlantic League playoffs. If Savannah wins the second half, they will face the team with the second-best overall record where Greenville is now five games in front of Augusta.
The RiverDogs (26-38/52-82) chased Savannah starter Gonzalez Germen with seven runs on 10 hits in just an inning and a third Monday. With one out in the second inning, seven batters in a row reached safely on Germen as the Dogs scored six times in the inning. The big hit was a three-run double from right fielder Kelvin De Leon who finished 2-for-5 with two run-scoring doubles and four RBI.
Down 7-0 heading to the bottom of the second inning, the Gnats made the game close with six unanswered runs of their own over the next four innings to pull within a run at 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth. In the second inning, centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani tripled in a run. In the third, DH Blake Forsythe's two-run single helped the Gnats score three times in the inning to make the score 7-4. In the fifth, Aderlin Rodriguez's RBI double helped pull the Gnats within a run at 7-6. However, the Gnats left the tying run at third in the frame.
The RiverDogs added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against Ryan Fraser to establish the final margin of 9-6.
Shortstop Wilfredo Tovar was 1-for-4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to eight straight games.
The Gnats will play their final home game of the 2011 regular season Tuesday night against the RiverDogs when RHP Taylor Whitenton (4-4, 2.55), who leads the SAL in ERA will head to the mound play game four of their five-game series Monday at 7:05 pm when the Gnats will send RHP Gonzalez Germen (7-6, 3.44) to the hill against RHP Manuel Barreda (4-2, 4.03). Gates open at 6 pm and the radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 6:50 pm.
Tuesday, August 30
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South Atlantic League Stories from August 29, 2011
- West Virginia Takes 17-9 Slugfest Over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Dickerson's Walk-Off Moon Shot Darkens Suns 12-11 - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Dads Sweep BlueClaws in Monday Doubleheader - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Comeback Comes up Short in 9-6 Defeat Monday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Bats Stay Hot in 17-9 Victory - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Swept in Doubleheader Monday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds Drop Eighth Straight Game, 8-0 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- 'Dogs Score Early and Often Before Holding on Late - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Shutout for Second Straight Night by 'Jackets, 1-0 - Greenville Drive
- Sanford Almost Perfect in 1-0 Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Rohm 3-Run Homer, Five Run First Lifts Braves - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, August 29 Vs. Charleston - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Groundbreaking Today for Miracle Field - Rome Emperors
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