Gnats Game Notes: Monday, August 2 at Rome
Published on August 2, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (15-21/57-49, 7th, Southern) @ Rome Braves (16-20/46-59, 6th, Southern)
Game #107 - Road Game #54 - Monday - 7:00
LHP Darin Gorski (4-5, 3.50) vs. LHP Brett Devall (6-7, 3.89) State Mutual Stadium, Rome, GA
Radio: WBMQ News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats head out on a nine-game road trip to Rome and Charleston, SC after a split of their four-game series against the Augusta GreenJackets. Savannah returns home on Thursday, August 12 to host the Kannapolis Intimidators.
Last Night: Nick Santomauro doubled home the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to help send the Gnats past the Augusta GreenJackets, 2-1. The #2 and 3 three hitters in the Savannah order, DH Robbie Shields and RF Cesar Puello were a combined 6-8 with two walks, four stolen bases and both runs scored.
Now Pitching: Darin Gorski is scheduled to make his twelfth start for the Gnats tonight. Gorski tossed 6.2 shutout innings in his last start in Lexington in a 3-0 Savannah win. It was his longest outing this year in which he has not given up a run. In his last three starts, Gorski is 1-1 with a 2.56 ERA (5 ER/17.2 IP), 16 strikeouts, five walks and a .172 (11 H/ 64 AB) opponents' batting average. 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.
Vs. Rome: The Gnats are 14-5 against Rome this year, 9-2 at home and 5-3 in Rome. The Gnats have outscored Rome by a score of 99-50 this season. After splitting the season series 11-11 last year, the two teams are scheduled for 23 games this year.
Puello Power: After a 3-4 game last night with a walk and three stolen bases, Cesar Puello has hit safely in a season-best 11 straight and 19 of his last 20 games. Over his 11-game streak, he's hitting .465 (20-43) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four walks and two strikeouts. Puello scored or drove in seven of the Gnats' 10 runs against Augusta in the two teams' four-game series. Puello hit .356/.451/.462 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in July while tying for the league lead with 17 stolen bases. His 44 stolen bases are second in the league, two behind Jeremy Hazelbaker of Greenville for the league lead with 46. Puello is 16 of his last 17 stealing bases and is second in the SAL with 78 runs scored.
Protected by the Shields: Robbie Shields was 3-4 with a walk last night, his first three-hit game for Savannah in his eighth contest. The Mets' third-round pick in 2009, Shields was 6-for-16 (.375) in the four-game series against the GreenJackets. After going without a three-hit game last year in his professional debut in 2009 with Brooklyn in which he hit .178/.273/.267, Shields had a trio of three-hit games in the Gulf Coast League this summer while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery from fall 2009.
Strong Arms: In each of the Gnats' last nine wins, their pitching staff has allowed three runs or fewer. Savannah is 47-15 when allowing three runs or fewer this year.
Still at the Top: The Gnats lead the SAL in ERA (2.85), strikeouts (907) and innings pitched (981.1).
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 2, 2010
- Legends Take Series Opener in Hagerstown, 9-4 - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads Drop Series Opener to Asheville, 8-7 - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Drop Series Opener to Lexington - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive Fall to BlueClaws, 5-1, in Series Opener - Greenville Drive
- RiverDogs Pull Away Late, Defeat Jackets 8-4 - Augusta GreenJackets
- May Recovers from Rocky First, Claws Cruise 5-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Dogs Win Sixth Straight, Buzz Past GreenJackets, 8-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Bayne Pitches Intimidators to Opener Win, 7-4 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- DeVall Pitches Complete Game Gem - Rome Emperors
- Four Early Runs Just Enough for Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Clip Shorebirds 4-3 in Game One of Series - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, August 2 at Rome - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Intimidators Salute the Great Outdoors on August 6th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Drive Begin August with Nine Straight Days of Excitement at Fluor Field - Greenville Drive
- Suns Offer Free Tickets for School Supplies - Hagerstown Suns
- GreenJackets Gear Up For Longest Homestand of Season - Augusta GreenJackets
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