Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, June 14 Vs. Rome - 7:05

Published on June 14, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (37-26, 1st, Southern) vs. Rome Braves (25-39, t-6th, Southern)

Game #64 - Home Game #34 - Tuesday - 7:05

RHP Gonzalez Germen (4-2, 3.57) vs. RHP Aaron Northcraft (2-1, 2.30)

Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA

Radio: News/Talk 630 WBMQ & sandgnats.com

Tonight: The first place Gnats can clinch their second-straight South Atlantic League Southern Division First-Half Championship with a win tonight. Savannah has a magic number of one and needs either a win tonight or a Greenville loss to clinch. The Gnats, who have won six games in a row, are 11 games over .500 for the first time in 2011.

Last Night: Starter Ryan Fraser tossed six shutout innings, and closer Josh Edgin worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save to lead the Gnats to a 2-1 win over Rome.

Now Pitching: RHP Gonzalez Germen is scheduled to make his 13thappearance and his 11 th start tonight. He is 12th in the South Atlantic League with 63 strikeouts and fanned a season-high eight in his last start, without walking a batter, his second walk-less outing of 2011. Germen has been durable, going five innings or more in each of his last eight starts and 6 innings or more in six of those eight. Germen's 63 innings pitched are third on the Gnats behind Greg Peavey (72) and Ryan Fraser (67).

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 with 54 strikeouts and 11 walks. 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 against Charleston, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a shutout into the seventh. The Gnats are 5-5 when Germen starts and have supported him with 4.40 runs per game (44 runs/10 starts), the second-best run support of any Savannah starter.

Driving Away: The Gnats lead the Greenville Drive by 5.5 games for first place with six games to play in the first half for both teams. The Drive beat the Charleston RiverDogs 3-0 last night. The Gnats finish the first half with four games in Greenville Thursday-Sunday.

Playoff History: The Savannah franchise last went to the playoffs in consecutive years in 1993 and 1994, when the Savannah Cardinals won the Southern Division and the League Championship both years. Savannah won the SAL Championship in 1996 and then did not make the playoffs until the Gnats won the 2010 first half championship.

Wild Wilfredo: Wilfredo Tovar has hit safely in 12 straight games going 17-40 (.425) with three doubles, three walks, one strikeout and two RBI. He's raised his batting average 44 points, from .185 at the start of his streak, to .229 today. Tovar has tied Robbie Shields, who had a 12-game hitting streak May 10-22, for the longest by a Gnat in 2011.

Hot Like the Weather: The Gnats have won six games in a row for the second time in 2011, and have won 18 of 22 games, an .818 winning percentage. Since slipping to 7-14 after April 29, the Gnats are 30-12, a .714 winning percentage. The Gnats first won six games in a row May 21-27. The Gnats have never won seven games in a row as a Mets affiliate, a relationship that began with the 2007 season.

Livin' on the Edge: After last night's 1-2-3 ninth, closer Josh Edgin has converted 11 straight save opportunities, and is second in the SAL in saves (15) and second among relievers in fewest baserunners/9 IP (7.14). Edgin has not allowed a run in his last 15 appearances nor an earned run since April 26, a span of 17 appearances.

Strong Arms: The Gnats have the SAL's best ERA (3.13), and are second in WHIP (1.23), fourth in strikeouts (542) and have allowed the second-fewest hits (501) in the League.

Vs. Rome: The Gnats are 7-3 against the Rome Braves in 2011, 4-2 at home and 3-1 on the road.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 14, 2011


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