Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, April 21 Vs. Lexington
April 21, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (6-7, 5th, Southern) vs. Lexington Legends (7-7, t-2 nd, Southern)
Game #14 - Home Game #7 - Thursday - 7:05
RHP Erik Goeddel (0-1, 6.43) vs. RHP Carlos Quevedo (2-0, 6.55)
Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA
Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com
Tonight: The Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, play game three of a five-game series with the Lexington Legends, SAL affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Gnats are 4-2 in the first six games of their nine-game home stand.
Last Night: The Gnats used a four-run fifth inning to overcome a 4-1 deficit and the bullpen held on late for a 5-4 over the Legends. 3B Aderlin Rodriguez led the way offensively going 3-4 with two doubles and three RBI. It was the first three-hit game of the year for Rodriguez. For the third time this year, Savannah starter Yohan Almonte finished six innings, earning his second win.
Now Pitching: RHP Erik Goeddel is scheduled for his third start of the year for Savannah. Last Saturday, Goeddel struck out six, walked four and gave up one run on three hits in the Gnats 6-5 win in 14 innings over Greenville. The Mets drafted Goeddel in the 24th round of the 2010 draft out of UCLA. Goeddel made one appearance for the GCL Mets on August 14, 2010 throwing one inning with one hit and one strikeout. Goeddel underwent Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school at San Jose's Bellarmine Prep in 2007 and missed most of the next two years at UCLA. In 2010 he was excellent for the Bruins out of the bullpen, striking out 59 and walking 23 while giving up 44 hits in 50 innings. In ratio form, he had a 10.6 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and 7.9 H/9. Coming into the 2011 season, Goeddel was ranked as the Mets' 17th best prospect by Baseball America, and the team's 16th best by Baseball Prospectus. The Gnats are 1-1 when Goeddel starts and have supported him with 3.50 runs per game.
Roster Move: The Gnats made a pair of roster moves on Thursday, placing RHP Yohan Almonte on the Brooklyn roster. OF Rafael Fernandez, who has played for the Gnats in each of the last two seasons, was transferred from advanced-A St. Lucie. Fernandez was hitting .182 (4-for-22) in the Florida State League to start the 2011 season with no extra-base hits and three walks against seven strikeouts. Between Savannah and St. Lucie a year ago, Fernandez combined to hit .278/.326/.402 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 104 games.
Close Calls: The Gnats are 3-0 in one-run games, all played at home. Savannah is 0-3 in games decided by two runs, with two such contests played on the road.
Two-for-Thursday: The Gnats have won both of their Thursday contests, winning 8-0 on Opening Night in West Virginia and 6-1 in Hickory last week.
Vs. Lexington: The Gnats are 1-1 against Lexington in 2011. This is the third of 16 meetings between the Gnats and Legends this year with eight games scheduled for both Savannah and Lexington. The Gnats were 6-2 versus Lexington in 2010 and a perfect 4-0 at home at Historic Grayson Stadium.
Cooler Honeck: Sam Honeck is 0-8 in his last two games, on the heels of an eight-game hitting streak. He is still leading the SAL in batting average (.420 - 21 H/50 AB) and doubles (8), and is tied for tops in hits (21), while ranking fourth in on-base percentage (.473) and sixth in slugging (.640). Honeck played in just six games for the Gnats last year, hitting .091 (2 H/22 AB) with six walks for a .286 OBP in six games before breaking his leg in a collision at home plate in extra-innings on May 5th, 2010.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 21, 2011
- Eighth-inning Rally Pushes Savannah Past Legends 6-5 - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads Sweep Doubleheader In Hagerstown - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Come Up Short Again Versus RiverDogs, 5-3 - Greenville Drive
- Vaughn's Two-Run Double Caps 8th Inning Comeback - Savannah Sand Gnats
- R'Dogs Rack Up Strikeouts, Beat Drive 5-3 To Move Into 1st Place Tie - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Hang On, Win 8-7 Over Jackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Survive Late Rally And Win 8-7 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws Come Up Just Short, Fall 5-4 to Asheville - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Black drives in 3 runs to lead Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shred-It Night at McCormick Field Friday - Asheville Tourists
- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, April 21 Vs. Lexington - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Fernandez to St. Lucie, Almonte to Savannah - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Ramon Flores Retires, Hilton Richardson Joins R-Braves - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Hometown Heroes Day Is Saturday, April 23 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 'Dads Announce A's & B's Rewards Ticket Special - Hickory Crawdads
- Shorebirds Game Notes: at Augusta - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Defeated by Hickory in Series Opener - Hagerstown Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
