Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, July 22 at West Virginia 7:05
Published on July 22, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (10-16/52-44, 7th, Southern) @ West Virginia Power (10-16/41-55, 7th, Northern)
Game #97 - Road Game #48 - Thursday - 7:05
RHP John Church (5-0, 1.26) vs. RHP Jason Erickson (5-5, 2.76)
Appalachian Power Park, Charleston, WV
Radio: WBMQ News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats look to snap a four-game losing streak in game three of their four-game series in Charleston, WV against the Power. The four-game losing streak is the third of the year for Savannah and matches the Gnats' season worst. Savannah has two other four-game losing streaks this year.
Last Night: The Power scored four runs in the first inning on their way to an 8-4 win. Three different Gnats, Pedro Zapata, Cesar Puello and Jefry Marte, had two-hit games.
Now Pitching: John Church is scheduled to make his fifth start of the year for the Sand Gnats after 22 relief appearances. Church was touched for three runs, two earned on five hits in 3.2 innings in his last start in the Gnats' 9-3 win over Greenville on Friday night. The earned runs Church allowed in the fourth inning in his last start were his first since May 30, a span of 26.1 innings. He did not allow a run of any kind in his first 16 innings as a starter. Church leads all Gnats pitchers who have made more than four appearances with his 1.26 ERA. Church would lead the SAL in ERA, but he is 39 innings short of qualifying for the league leader board. Church made 21 relief appearances with Savannah last year and one with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League. With Savannah last year, Church was 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks in 29 innings. The Mets drafted Church in the 23rd round of the 2009 amateur draft out of the University of West Florida.
Vs. West Virginia: The Gnats are 3-3 against the Power this year, 3-1 at home and 0-2 on the road. Savannah is 6-12 against the West Virginia since becoming a Mets affiliate prior to the 2007 season.
New Half: The Gnats finished the first half at 42-28, tied for the league's best 42-28 record. In the first half Savannah spent one day, April 15, under .500 at 3-4 while outscoring their opponents 329-232. Gnats' pitching allowed just 3.31 runs per game while the offense scored 4.7 runs per contest. In the second half, the team has allowed 112 runs in 16 games or 7.0 runs per game, over twice the rate as the first half. Savannah's scoring is up too: the second half team is averaging 6.25 runs per game, 1.5 runs more per game than the first half edition.
Four Down: The Gnats have dropped four games in a row and seven of their last nine games. In their last nine, the Gants have been outscored 32-48. The Gnats had two four-game losing streaks in the first half, but never dropped five games in a row.
Early Jumps: After last night's loss, the Gnats fell to 2-14 on the road when their opponent scores first. By contrast, Savannah is 21-10 when scoring first on the road.
Marte Mashing: After his 2-for-4 game last night, Jefry Marte has now hit safely in four straight games and 13 of his last 15 games. In that time, he's hit .439 (25-for-57) with six doubles, two triples, and two home runs while raising his average from .228 to .262.
Armed and Dangerous: The Gnats lead the SAL with a 2.78 ERA and 818 strikeouts. At the end of the first half, the Gnats had a 2.52 ERA, so the team ERA has risen by a little over a quarter of a run (0.26) in 26 games.
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 July 22, 2010
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- Late Runs Doom Shorebirds in 7-5 Defeat - Delmarva Shorebirds
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- Clark Gets Record-Breaking Save as Legends Win 3-2 - Lexington Legends
- Salute to Cleveland Sports History This Saturday - SAL1
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- Lakewood Washes Charleston, 10-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Pitching Keys Drive's Victory Over Kannapolis Again - Greenville Drive
- Late Hit Sinks Intimidators 3-1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Heredia Activated from DL, Shive Transferred to Staten Island - Charleston RiverDogs
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