Gnats Game Notes: Friday, May 27 at Augusta

May 27, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (24-22, 1st, Southern) @ Augusta GreenJackets (19-28, 6th, Southern) Game #47 -

Road Game #26 - Friday - 7:05

RHP Taylor Whitenton (2-0, 2.31) vs. RHP Seth Rosin (1-2, 4.58)

Lake Olmsted Stadium, Augusta, GA

Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com

Tonight: The first place Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, look for their sixth win in a row in game three of a four-game series against the Augusta GreenJackets, SAL affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Savannah has new season-high five-game winning streak. The Gnats return home for Military Appreciation Night on Sunday, May 29.

Last Night: Greg Peavey tossed seven shutout innings to earn his fourth win and Cory Vaughn was 4-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle in a 6-0 Sand Gnats' win that was interrupted by a 51 minute rain delay in the seventh inning.

Now Pitching: RHP Taylor Whitenton will make his sixth start of the year. Whitenton has held the opposition scoreless or to just one run in four of his five starts. His 46 strikeouts place him 11th in the SAL. In 2010 with the Gnats, Whitenton walked 5.7 batters/9 IP (68 BB/108.1 IP), but this year, he's down to 3.34 BB/9 (13 BB/35 IP). Last year with Savannah, Whitenton was 8-9 with a 4.57 ERA in 18 starts and eight relief appearances with the Gnats. He fanned 113 batters and walked 68, the second-most in the SAL, in 108.1 innings. Whitenton started and took the loss in game two of the 2010 SAL Southern Division Championship series in which the Greenville Drive swept the Gnats 2-0. In that game on September 10, he gave up five runs on four hits, including a home run, and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings. In 2009, Whitenton threw five scoreless innings over four games in the Gulf Coast League, striking out seven, walking five and yielding just one hit. The Mets drafted Whitenton in the 39th round of the 2009 draft out of Darton (GA) College. The Gnats are 4-1 when Whitenton starts and have supported him with 4.2 runs per game.

Fantastic Five: The Gnats have won five games in a row for the first time in 2011. Savannah has won three one-run games and one two-run game over this stretch, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 23-12. The Gnats have won three of the five in their final turn at bat... Last year's First Half Champion Gnats had a pair of five-game winning streaks. The Gnats have not won six straight games as a Mets affiliate, nor did they win six straight games in their final two years as a Nationals affiliate in 2005 and 2006. The Gnats are two games over .500 for the first time this season.

Cory's Cuts: Last night was Cory Vaughn's first four-hit game as a Gnat. He leads all of minor league baseball with 13 hit-by pitches and is fourth in minor league baseball in on-base percentage (.475). He is sixth in the SAL in batting average (.342), tied for third in walks (29), and eighth in OPS (.979). Vaughn is hitting .376/.527/.565 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with seven doubles, three home runs, 19 walks and 18 strikeouts in 23 games in May.

Standings Update: For the fourth straight day, the first place Gnats own a half-game lead over their closest pursuers. The Lexington Legends are alone in second for the third straight day. There are now 23 games to play in the First Half. Both the Gnats and Legends have won five games in a row.

Strong Arms: The Gnats have the SAL's best ERA (3.31) and WHIP (1.23). Savannah's 396 strikeouts are fourth in the SAL.

Vs. Augusta: The Gnats are 2-0 against the GreenJackets in 2011. Ten of the games are scheduled for Augusta, and 11 for Savannah. The Gnats were 9-14 against Augusta last year, 4-7 at home and 5-7 on the road.



South Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2011


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