Gnats Drop Series Finale, 5-4
Published on April 20, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Savannah Sand Gnats carried a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning but weren't able to hold it as they fell to the Greenville Drive, 5-4, tonight at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats did however get to Drive starting pitcher Jon Lester, tacking two home runs on the rehabbing Red Sox starter.
After the Drive hung a two spot on Gnats starter Julio Polanco in the first inning, Brahiam Maldonado tied the game in the bottom half of the second with a 2-run home run off of Lester. The Gnats weren't done with the long ball just yet because in the bottom of the fifth, Hector Pellot hit his second home run of 2007 leading off the inning to give Savannah a 3-2 lead. Pellot would finish the game 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Lester threw five innings for the Drive allowing six hits, two of them home runs, and three earned runs while striking out 5.
With a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth, Gnats reliever Nelson Portillo (0-2) would run into some trouble. With runners at first and second and one out, Jason Place smacked a double to left field to score a run and cut the lead to 4-3. Manager Tim Teufel would bring in David Koons to try and hold the one-run advantage with less than two down.
Koons got the first batter he faced, Reid Engel, to strike out swinging but wasn't as fortunate with the second batter, Carlos Fernandez. Fernandez hit a line-drive single to right field to score both runners and give the Drive a 5-4 lead they would not surrender.
Portillo would take the loss for Savannah while Travis Beazley (3-0) would notch the win for the Drive. Francisco Pena finished the game 3-for-4 with one run scored, and D.J. Wabick hit his first home run of 2007.
Tomorrow the Gnats travel to Charleston to start a four-game series. The next home game for Savannah will be April 30 at 7:05 p.m. against Charleston. For tickets and a complete schedule, call 912-351-9150 or visit www.sandgnats.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2007
- Captains take series finale over Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Braddock Fans 12 In Power Sweep - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Legends Avoid Sweep with Offensive Outburst - Lexington Legends
- Cowart, GreenJackets Buzz Catfish 9-0 - Columbus Catfish
- Gnats Drop Series Finale, 5-4 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Four In The Ninth Gives Delmarva Comeback Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Three Eighth-Inning Runs Propel Greenville To Victory - Greenville Drive
- Jackson on DL, Hollingsworth Gets Call-Up - Charleston RiverDogs
- Crawdads, Local Churches Team Up To Aid Pregnancy Care Center - Hickory Crawdads
- Braves return home, Cormier to start Sunday - Rome Emperors
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