Gnats Game Notes: Tuesday, June 7 at Asheville

Published on June 7, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (31-26, 1st, Southern) @ Asheville Tourists (28-30, t-2nd, Southern)

Game #58 - Road Game #30 - Tuesday - 11:05

RHP Yohan Almonte (2-2, 3.64) vs. RHP Peter Tago (1-1, 4.72)

McCormick Field, Asheville, NC

Radio: sandgnats.com only

Today: The first place Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, finish a three-game series in Asheville against the third-place Asheville Tourists, SAL affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The Gnats are off Wednesday and begin a seven-game home stand on Thursday.

Last Night: The Tourists blew out the Gnats 10-1, getting to starter Taylor Whitenton for nine runs, all earned, in 3.2 innings. LF Rafael Fernandezwas 2-4 and drove home the Gnats' only run. Middle infielder Luis Nieves pitched the game's final inning for Savannah.

Now Pitching: Yohan Almonte is scheduled to make his eighth start of the year today. Almonte cruised through three perfect innings in his last start fanning three. He has made two starts since returning from a lower back strain that sidelined him for 27 days. Almonte owns a K/BB ratio of 5.25 (21 K/4 BB). In 2010, Almonte led the New York-Penn League in ERA (1.91), IP (89.2) and WHIP (0.93), averaging nearly six innings per start. He had the second-lowest batting average against among New York-Penn League starters at .207 and the third-lowest unintentional walk/9 IP (1.41) with a K/BB ratio of 4 (60 K/15 BB). The 21-year old Almonte has moved steadily through the Mets system advancing from the Dominican Summer League in 2008 to the Gulf Coast League and then the Appalachian League in 2009, to the New York Penn League in 2010 before joining the Gnats, his first full-season team, in 2011. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. The Gnats are 3-4 when Almonte starts and have supported him with 3.6 runs per game.

Standings Update: There are now three teams - the Asheville Tourists, the Lexington Legends and the Greenville Drive - all tied at 3.5 games behind the Gnats with 12 games to play in the first half. The Gnats end the first half with four games in Greenville.

Road Warriors: With a win today, the Gnats would win the series from the Tourists. Savannah has gone 3-1 in their last four road series, dating to April 30. The Gnats lost their first three road series of the year.

Ouch: Last night was the first time in 2011 that Gnats' pitching gave up 10 runs in a game...Savannah pitching set a new season-high for walks in a game with 12, surpassing the seven walks issued on May 27 in a 5-2 win in Augusta... the nine runs allowed by Taylor Whitenton were a new individual high for a Gnats' pitcher and the five walks ties a season high first set by Ryan Fraser.

See, It's Ceciliani: Darrell Ceciliani has hit safely in his last six games, the longest active streak on the Gnats, going .348 (8-for-23) with a double and a home run in that span.

Livin' on the Edge: Closer Josh Edgin is second in the SAL in saves, and third among SAL relievers in both lowest batting average against (.146) and strikeout rate (12.62 K/9 IP). Edgin has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances and has not allowed an earned run since April 26, a span of 13 appearances.

Where the Homers Happen: The Gnats have hit 31 home runs in 29 games on the road this year and four in 28 games at home. The Tourists have hit 39 homers and given up 42 in 30 home games and hit 25 and given up 13 in 28 games on the road.

Strong Arms: The Gnats still have the SAL's best ERA (3.33), but are now second in WHIP (1.26) and strikeouts (494).

Versus Asheville: This series, which is tied 1-1, is the first and only series between the Gnats and Tourists in the first half. The division rivals play just seven games against each other in 2011. Asheville's only visit to Savannah is August 14-17.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2011


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