Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, September 1 at Lexington

Published on September 1, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (38-27/77-57, 1st, Southern) vs. Lexington Legends (21-42/56-77, 7th, Southern)

Game #135 - Road Game #65 - Thursday - 5:05

LHP Angel Cuan (10-3, 3.71) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (5-11, 4.88)

Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington, KY

Radio: News/Talk 630 WBMQ and sandgnats.com

Tonight: The Gnats begin the final series of the 2011 regular season in Lexington, KY against the last-place Legends. The Gnats will begin the playoffs Wednesday at the home of the #2 seed and return home Friday, September 9.

Tuesday Night: The Gnats set a new season-high for runs scored in an inning with a seven-run fourth inning on their way to beating the Charleston RiverDogs 11-8 to take three of five games from the 'Dogs.

Now Pitching: LHP Angel Cuan, who is 13th in the SAL in ERA (3.71), is scheduled to make his 14th start since moving into the rotation after the All-Star Break. Cuan's WHIP of 1.18 is eighth in the SAL. In his last two starts, Cuan has given up 13 runs, 12 earned, on 25 hits and three walks while fanning four in 11 innings. The 12 earned runs in his last two starts pushed his ERA from 3.08 after his start on August 16th, to 3.71 today. Cuan has thrown at least six innings or more in 11 of his last 12 starts. Cuan has walked just 15 batters in 113 innings, a rate of 1.21 BB/9. Last year, Cuan was second only to teammate Yohan Almonte in the New-York Penn League with a 2.03 ERA. He was fifth in the NYP in strikeouts (64) and fourth in innings pitched (79.2) and fewest baserunners/9 IP (9.94). Cuan went five innings or more in 13 of his 14 starts in Brooklyn in 2010. Cuan pitched for his native Panama in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The Gnats are 10-3 when Cuan starts and have supported him with 4.62 runs per game (60 runs/13 games).

Blake Bashing: Blake Forsythe has hit safely in seven straight games, setting a new personal season-best. He's 12-for-28 (.429) in that span with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI, four walks and nine strikeouts. After a .648 OPS in the first half, he's up to .833 in the second half.

Meet the New Guys: The Gnats added three new players on Thursday from the rookie level Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian League: CF/3B Dustin Lawley, C Cam Maron and INF Juan Carlos Gamboa. To make room on the roster, Guillaume Leduc was placed on the disabled list with a sprained ankle while infielders Jet Butler and J.B. Brown were transferred to Kingsport. Lawley, who was named the K-Mets co-Hitter of the Year alongside Greg Pron, hit .284/.325/.500 (AVG/OBP/SLG) for the K-Mets with 17 doubles and nine home runs in 57 games. Maron was second in the Appalachian League with a .434 on-base percentage.

Wire-to-Wire: The Gnats are attempting to win both halves in the Southern Division, something no team has done in either division in the SAL since the Capital City Bombers accomplished the feat as a Mets affiliate in 2004.

Playoff Chase: The Gnats lead the SAL Southern Division by one game over the Augusta GreenJackets, and two over the Asheville Tourists and Greenville Drive with five to play for all four teams. If the Gnats win the second half, they will face the Greenville Drive, who have clinched finishing with the second-best overall record in the division. If Augusta, Asheville or Greenville wins the second half, that team will be the Gnats' first-round playoff opponent.

Arms Race: The Gnats still lead the SAL in ERA (3.27), WHIP (1.22) and fewest hits allowed (1039). The Gnats are sixth in strikeouts (1020) and have allowed the sixth fewest walks (413). Lexington is 12th in the 14-team SAL ERA and has struck out the third-fewest batters in the SAL (972) while walking the fourth-fewest (374).

Vs. Lexington: The Gnats are 8-5 against the Legends this year, 6-3 at home and 2-2 on the road.

Playoff Schedule: Savannah will play the number two seed in the best-of-three Southern Division Championship series beginning on the road on Wednesday, September 7, returning to Savannah on Friday, September 9, for game two. Game three, if necessary, will be held Saturday, September 10. If the Gnats advance, the best-of-five SAL Championship Series will begin at the home of the Northern Division team on Monday, September 12, returning to Savannah on Thursday, September 15.

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 1, 2011


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