Gnats Game Notes: Friday, August 13 Vs. Kannapolis
Published on August 13, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (19-27/61-55, 7th, Southern) vs. Kannapolis Intimidators (22-23/53-61, 4th, Northern)
Game #117 - Home Game #55 - Friday - 7:05
LHP Darin Gorski (5-6, 3.56) vs. RHP Cameron Bayne (9-9, 3.97) Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA
Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats play game two of their nine-game homestand and game two of their five-game series against the Kannapolis Intimidators, the SAL affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Gnats had their four-game winning streak snapped last night.
Last Night: The Intimidators shut out the Gnats 2-0. Kannapolis 1B Ian Gac drove home the game's only runs with a double to right-center in the top of the first inning. CF Matt den Dekker was 3-4, with three doubles, becoming the first Gnat with three doubles in a game in 2010.
Now Pitching: Darin Gorski is scheduled to make his 14th start for the Gnats tonight. Gorski gave up just one unearned run in 5.1 innings in the Gnats' 4-1 win in game two of a doubleheader in Charleston last Saturday. In his last three starts, Gorski has an ERA of 2.00 (4 ER/18 IP) with 15 strikeouts against seven walks. Since returning to the rotation after the All-Star Break, Gorksi is 3-4 with a 4.07 ERA with 37 strikeouts, and 14 walks in 42 innings over eight starts. Last year for the Brooklyn Cyclones, Gorski was 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 62.1 innings over 13 appearances, 11 of which were starts. He struck out 50 batters and walked 26. The Mets selected Gorski in the 7th round of the 2009 draft out of Kutztown (PA) University where he earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Pitcher of the Year Award in 2009, his junior year. In 2009, Gorski led the Kutztown Golden Bears in strikeouts (100), innings pitched (78.2) and batting average against (.208). He was 10th in Division II in strikeouts.
Roster Update: Friday, Patrick Farrell, who had seen action in six games for the Gnats was transferred to Brooklyn. Jordan Abruzzo, who has spent time with the Gnats each of the last two years, and was rehabbing in the Gulf Coast League, was activated from the St. Lucie disabled list and transferred to Savannah. Abruzzo hit .220/.250/.363 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 91 at-bats over 23 games in Savannah last year, after hitting .300/.347/.448 with 13 doubles and five home runs in 203 at-bats over 54 games with the Gnats in 2008. After making 29 roster moves in the first half, the Gnats are now at 40 in the second half.
Arms Race: Savannah pitching has struck out at least 10 batters in each of their last four games. In their last five games, the pitching owns a 1.86 ERA (8 ER/43 IP) with a 3.92 K/BB (51 K/13 BB) and a .203 opponents' batting average (32 H/158 AB).
Meet the New Guy: Matt den Dekker became the first Gnat to hit three doubles in a game last night. He's hit safely in his first four games with Savannah going is 8-for-17 (.471) with a four doubles, three runs scored and five RBI. As a senior, den Dekker helped lead the Gators to their first College World Series since 2005. The Mets drafted den Dekker in the fifth round out of the University of Florida in June 2010.
Better Year: This has been the Gnats best season as a Mets affiliate. The Gnats are five wins away from setting a new high-win total as a Mets' affiliate after finishing at 41-94 in 2007, 61-76 in 2008 and 65-72 last year. Last year after 116 games, the Gnat were 56-60, five games worse than this year's edition.
Vs. Kannapolis: The Gnats are 5-4 against Kannapolis this year, all at home. The Gnats and Intimidators will play 13 games over three series in Savannah. The Gnats and the Intimidators split their season series 2-2 last year.
Playoffs: By virtue of winning the first half, the Gnats will have home-field advantage in the Southern Division Championship Series. The second half winner will host game one on Wednesday, September 8 before the series returns to Savannah for game two on Friday, September 10 and game three, if necessary, on Saturday, September 11.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2010
- Late Rally Not Enough for Braves - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Rally Falls Short 7-5 Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends' Heath belts three homers, but West Virginia rallies to win - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads fall to 'Dogs before 3,232 on Friday - Hickory Crawdads
- Eighth Inning Homer Dooms Drive, Lose to Tourists 4-2 - Greenville Drive
- Hagerstown Falls to Greensboro 10-2 - Hagerstown Suns
- Dominguez Drives In Four in Second Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Murphy's 2 HR, 9 RBI, Paces Charleston to 18-4 Drubbing of Hickory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators Back to .500, Win Fourth Straight - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Two big innings and dominant pitching lead Claws to 10-0 win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- BlueClaws Throttle Shorebirds 10-0 In Game Two - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes: Friday, August 13 Vs. Kannapolis - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Intimidators and HealthReach Community Clinic Team up on August 28th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- GM Mark Seaman Hopes to be Wrong Again, Guarantees RiverDogs Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Free Carnival at Municipal Stadium on August 21st - Hagerstown Suns
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