Gnats Game Notes: Friday, April 15 Vs. Greenville

Published on April 15, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (2-5, 6th, Southern) vs. Greenville Drive (6-2, 1st, Southern)

Game #8 - Home Game #1- Friday - 7:05

RHP Yohan Almonte (0-1, 3.00) vs. RHP Brandon Workman (0-0, 0.00)

Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA

Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com

Tonight: The Gnats, South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets, play their home opener, and the first game of a nine-game homestand against the Greenville Drive, South Atlantic League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Home Opener: Fireworks follow the game tonight. Gates open at 5 pm. Fans are encouraged to come early to enjoy live music and the festivities on the newly expanded Plaza area. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Magnet Schedule courtesy of the US Coast Guard.

Last Night: The Gnats snapped their five-game losing streak with a 6-1 win at Hickory to salvage the finale of a four-game set against the Crawdads. C Albert Cordero, who entered the game 0-11, was 3-4 with a home run. Cory Vaughn was 3-5, his first three-hit game as a Gnat.

Now Pitching: Yohan Almonte will make his second start tonight for the Gnats. He threw six innings in game one of Savannah's doubleheader last Sunday in West Virgina, a 2-0 loss. He is the only pitcher, for the Gnats or their opponents, to throw six innings this year. Both runs against Almonte in his previous start scored in the fifth inning in which he balked and threw a wild pitch. In 2010, Almonte led the New York-Penn League in ERA (1.91), IP (89.2) and WHIP (0.93). He had the second-lowest batting average against among starters at .207 and the third-fewest unintentional walk/9 IP (1.41). He owned a sterling K/BB ratio of 4 (60 K/15 BB). The 21-year old Almonte has moved steadily through the Mets system advancing from the Dominican Summer League in 2008 to the Gulf Coast League and then the Appalachian League in 2009, to the New York Penn League in 2010 before joining the Gnats, his first full-season team, in 2011. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007.

Hot Honeck: 1B Sam Honeck, who was 2-4 with an RBI last night, has hit safely in six of the Gnats' seven games. His .480 batting average is 2nd in the SAL as is his .552 on base percentage.

Vicious Vaughn: In his last two games, Cory Vaughn is 5-8 with a double, his first extra-base hit of the season. His .517 on base percentage is third in the SAL. Vaughn has also played center field for the last two and a half games since teammate Darrell Ceciliani was sidelined with a right hamstring strain. Vaughn saw action in center field in 14 games and 56 on the outfield corners for Brooklyn in the New York Penn League in 2010.

Not More Four: In the fourth inning of games this year, the Gnats have been outscored 17-3. The 17 runs the team has allowed represent one half of the team's 34 runs allowed in 2011. ... The second inning has been the Gnats best frame so far. They have outscored their opponents 9-1 in second innings.

Big O: Last night the Gnats set a new season high with 13 hits.

Big D: Last night the Gnats turned two double-plays and played error-less baseball. This year, when the Gnats have not committed an error in a game, they are 2-2. Savannah is 0-3 when making a defensive miscue.

Vs. Greenville: Tonight is the first of 20 meetings between the Gnats and the Greenville Drive this season. The two teams are scheduled for 12 games in Savannah and eight in Greenville. In 2010, the Gnats were 4-6 against the Drive in the regular season. Greenville, who won the second half, swept Savannah, the First-Half Champions, 2-0 in the first round of the SAL Playoffs.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 15, 2011


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