Gnats Game Notes: Friday, June 18 at Augusta

Published on June 18, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (41-26, 1st, Southern) vs. Augusta GreenJackets (39-28, 2nd, Southern)

Game #68 - Road Game #33 - Friday - 7:05

RHP Collin McHugh (2-4, 3.79) vs. RHP Jorge Bucardo (6-2, 1.57)

Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, GA

Radio: WBMQ News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com

Tonight: The Gnats, who lead the Augusta GreenJackets by two games for first place in the SAL Southern Division play game two of a four-game series in Augusta to finish the first half. The Gnats need one win in the next three games to secure their first playoff appearance since 1996.

Last Night: The Gnats beat Augusta 4-1 behind 6.1 innings from starter Armando Rodriguez and 2.2 scoreless innings from the Savannah bullpen. DH Pedro Zapata was 2-4 with a walk, scored the first Savannah run and drove home the last.

Now Pitching: Collin McHugh will make his seventh start of the year, and his fourth in a row after making seven of out eight appearances out of the bullpen from April 21-May 26. In his last start, McHugh gave eight runs in the just one inning of work in Greensboro in an 11-1 Savannah loss. It was the shortest start by a Gnats pitcher this year; three previous times a Savannah starter had thrown only two innings. The eight runs allowed were also the most by a Savannah pitcher in any game this year. Last year, McHugh was 8-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 75 innings for the Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York-Penn League. He struck out 79 and walked 21. McHugh was 13-9 with five saves in his career at Berry (GA) College and led the Southern States Athletic Conference in strikeout rate (9.05 K/9) in his junior year in 2008. The Mets drafted McHugh in the 18th round in 2008.

Hot Now: The Gnats have won five in a row to match their season-best winning streak. Overall, Savannah has won nine of 10 and 11 of 13, outscoring their opponents by a combined 75-33 in their 13-game run. Savannah is hitting .294 (131 H/445 AB) in their last 13 games and .312 in their last 10. In their last 13 games, the Gnats have gone from three games behind Augusta to two games up.

Vs. the GreenJackets: Savannah is 5-8 against Augusta this year, 4-5 in Augusta. The Gnats have outscored the 'Jackets 53-41 in the teams' 13 games this year.

A Little Green: The GreenJackets have lost three games in a row and are now just 6-7 in their last 13 games overall.

Simply the Best: The Gnats' pitching staff leads the South Atlantic League and all of minor league baseball with a 2.44 ERA and 600 strikeouts.

Gronauer Growls: Kai Gronauer, one of six Savannah All-Stars, has hit safely in six straight games over which time he is 9-24 (.375) with two doubles, five runs and five RBI. After hitting .214/.302/.274 in May, he's up to .306/.390/.389 in June.

ZAP: Pedro Zapata has hit safely in four straight games and 14 of his last 15 contests. He's raised his batting average 31 points over his run and his .286 average entering today is his best of the season. He's hitting .377/.433/.453 in 13 games in June. His OPS by month: April- .645, May- .728, June- .886.

Gone Fishin: Micheal Fisher has been a terror for Savannah since signing with the Mets as a minor league free agent in May. Fisher has hit safely in 12 of the 13 games he has started for Savannah and has an extra-base hit in five of his last nine games.

Last Championship: The Savannah franchise has not made the playoffs since winning the SAL Championship as the Savannah Cardinals in 1996. The Cardinals, who made the playoffs as a wild card that year, beat the Greensboro Hornets 3-2 in the championship series.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 18, 2010


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