Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, August 8 at Charleston
Published on August 8, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (16-26/58-54, 7th, Southern) @ Charleston RiverDogs (22-20/53-58, 3rd, Southern)
Game #113 - Road Game #60 - Sunday - 5:05
RHP Taylor Whitenton (5-6, 4.52) vs. RHP Mike Solbach (2-3, 4.13) Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Charleston, SC
Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats play game three of a five-game series in Charleston, S.C. against the RiverDogs, the SAL affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Gnats, who are now 1-5 on their nine-game road trip, return home on Thursday, August 12 to host the Kannapolis Intimidators.
Last Night: The Gnats and RiverDogs split a doubleheader with Charleston taking the opener 7-0 and Savannah grabbing the nightcap 4-1 to end a five-game losing streak. In game two, CF R.J. Harris broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the sixth inning to support Dari Gorski, who allowed just one unearned run in 5.1 innings.
Now Pitching: Taylor Whitenton will make his 13th start of the year this evening. In his last three starts, Whitenton has given up 14 runs on 16 hits and nine walks in 8.1 innings. Whitenton's 51 walks are tied for the fourth-most in the SAL. In his seven starts since returning to the rotation over the All-Star Break, Whitenton is 2-4 with a 6.14 ERA (20 ER/29.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts against 20 walks. Whitenton earned the win against Charleston in his only appearance against the RiverDogs, fanning seven in four innings in Savannah's 5-2 win on May 20th. The Gnats are 4-8 when Whitenton starts and have supported him with 4.2 runs per game, the fourth-lowest support of any Gnats starter. Last year, 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.
Hammerin' Harris: With his home run in game two yesterday as part of a 2-3 game, R.J. Harris is now 8-for-18 (.444) with a triple, two home runs and six RBI in his last five games. This outburts comes on the heels of an 0-21 skid. Harris' four home runs are tied for second on the Gnats. Both of the other two players with four or more, Alonzo Harris (4) and Jefry Marte(6) are on the disabled list.
Puello Power: Cesar Puello was 0-2 with a hit-by-pitch in game one yesterday, snapping his 15-game hitting streak, but extending his consecutive games on-base streak to 30. He was 0-4 in the nightcap to snap his streak of reaching base in every game since July 5. His 30-game streak is tied for the best in the SAL this year. In those 30 games, he hit .396 (44-for-111) with a .492 OBP with six doubles, a triple, a home run, and 11 walks against 15 strikouts.
Vs. Charleston: The Gnats are 3-3 against the RiverDogs, all on the road. The RiverDogs make their only visit to Savannah August 25-28.
As the Pitching Goes: The Gnats are 6-14 in their last 20 games. In those 20 games, Gnats pitching has given up seven runs or more nine times, and lost each game. The Gnats are 6-1 in that time when allowing three runs or fewer, but 0-13 when allowing four or more. Gnats pitching still leads the SAL with a 2.91 ERA and is second, two behind Lakewood, with 946 strikeouts.
Alumni Update: Saturday, in his Florida State League debut, Gnats All-Star Jimmy Fuller gave up five runs, all earned on nine hits and a walk in four innings in St. Lucie's 6-3 loss. Fuller struck out three.
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 8, 2010
- Late Rally Falls Short as Braves Top Drive, 6-4 - Greenville Drive
- Suns Split Sunday Twin Bill with Intimidators - Hagerstown Suns
- Intimidators, Suns Split DH 5-4 and 9-4 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Flacco Lifts Shorebirds to Walk-Off 2-1 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sand Gnats Sting RiverDogs, 10-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Back-to-Back Blasts Key 4-3 Augusta Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Get Two in Ninth for Walk-Off Win Over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Grasshoppers Come Back for 5-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Walk-Off With 5-4 Win Over Blueclaws - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Rally for Four in the Ninth to Stun Claws, 5-4 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, August 8 at Charleston - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Drop Series Opener Against Intimidators - Hagerstown Suns
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