Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, April 12 at Hickory Crawdads
Published on April 12, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (1-3, 5th, Southern) vs. Hickory Crawdads (3-2, 4th, Northern)
Game #5 - Road Game #5 - Tuesday - 7:00
RHP Gonzalez Germen (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Roman Mendez (0-0, 0.00) LP Frans Stadium, Hickory, NC
Radio: News/Talk 630 & sandgnats.com
Tonight: The Gnats will play game two of a four-game series in Hickory, NC against the Hickory Crawdads, the SAL affiliate of the Texas Rangers. This is game five of a seven-game game road trip. The Gnats have lost three straight since winning 8-0 on Opening Night.
Home Opener: The Gnats will return to Savannah for their home opener on Friday, April 15th against the Greenville Drive. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Fireworks follow the game on Opening Night and gates will open two hours prior to game time. The first 5,000 fans to visit Grayson Stadium on Opening Weekend will receive a Magnet Schedule courtesy of the US Coast Guard.
Last Night: The Crawdads beat the Gnats 9-1. Javier Rodriguez provided the only run for the Gnats on a solo home run in the top of the second inning.
Now Pitching: RHP Gonzalez Germen is scheduled to make his 2011 debut tonight against Hickory. Germen spent most of the 2010 season with Kingsport in the Appalachian League where he was 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 61 innings over 10 starts. He struck out 54 and walked 11 for a healthy K/BB ratio of 4.9. He made two starts with Savannah to finish out the year. On August 27th, in his Savannah debut, in game two of a double-header, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a shutout into the seventh.
Hot Honeck: 1B Sam Honeck who was 1-4 last night has hit safely in three of the Gnats four games. His .429 batting average is 11th in the SAL.
There is No Such Thing as a Free Pass: Gnats pitchers have walked the fewest batters in the SAL (6). Lexington and Hagerstown are tied for second, having issued seven walks.
Javier's Homers: Javier Rodriguez hit his second home run of the year yesterday. He is one of nine players in the SAL with multiple home runs. He hit a career-high four home runs last year for Kingsport in the Appalachian League. His first two came on back-to-back nights, July 1 and 2 in games nine and 10 of the Appy League season.
Starts and Finishes: In their first four games, Gnats starters have an ERA of 4.00 and a K/BB of 6 (18 K/3 BB) in 18 innings while the team's relievers have an ERA of 9.00 and a K/BB of 3.33 (10 K/3 BB) in 11 innings.
Vs. Hickory: The Gnats and Crawdads split the 2010 season series 2-2. All four games were played at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Crawdads visited Savannah in 2009, but the Gnats did not return the trip. This series is the first time the Gnats have played in Hickory since May 5-10, 2008, when the Gnats took three of four games. In 2011, the two teams are scheduled for eight games, with the Crawdads visiting Savannah May 9-12.
New Skipper: 2011 marks the first season as a manager in professional baseball for Ryan Ellis. This is Ellis' third season with Savannah after working as the team's hitting coach each of the last two years. In 2001, while playing for the Vermont Expos, Ellis played all nine defensive positions. In order, he played first base, second, short stop, third base, left field, center field, pitcher and concluded with an inning as a catcher.
Major League Staff: Both the Gnats new pitching coach, Glenn Abbott, and hitting coach, Benny Distefano, played in the Major Leagues. Abbott pitched 11 years going 62-83 with a 4.39 ERA. He pitched for the final two A's teams that won three straight World Series from 1972-4. Distefano, who played five years with the Pirates and Astros, holds the distinction of being Major League Baseball's last left handed-throwing catcher.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 12, 2011
- Suns Stay Hot, Extend Winning Streak in Lexington - Hagerstown Suns
- Harper 0-4, But Suns Top Legends 5-1 - Lexington Legends
- Kannapolis Wins See-Saw Battle, 10-6, In Game Two - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Six-Run Fourth Upends Gnats Tuesday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 'Dads rally past Sand Gnats, 6-1 - Hickory Crawdads
- Successful Formula Continues For Drive In 15-0 Win Over RiverDogs - Greenville Drive
- Power Defeat Tourists 6-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Defeat Tourists 6-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Greenville Races Past R'Dogs, 15-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators Long Balls Bust 'Birds - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- GreenJackets Sting Braves - Rome Emperors
- Bats, Bullpen Carry GreenJackets in 5-3 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Tuesday's Game Rained Out, Doubleheader Wednesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Legends Move Doubleheader to Wednesday - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, April 12 at Hickory Crawdads - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Join the 'Dads for Salute to Charlie Sheen this Thursday - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Announce Food and Beverage Menu - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. Kannapolis - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Shorebirds to Host Tuesday Night Tickets Deal at Perdue Stadium - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tickets Moving Fast for Friday's Home Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
- Intimidators Continue Series at Delmarva Tonight - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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