Gnats Game Notes: Wednesday, August 17 Vs. Asheville
August 17, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (32-18/71-48, 1st, Southern) vs. Asheville Tourists (27-24/58-62, 4th, Southern)
Game #121 - Home Game #65 - Wednesday - 7:05
RHP Erik Goeddel (2-2, 2.82) vs. RHP Nick Schnaitmann (3-1, 1.96)
Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA
Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half champion Gnats finish a four-game series and an eight-game home stand against the Asheville Tourists, SAL affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The Gnats are 4-2 on their current eight-game home stand, and 44-19 at home for the year. The Gnats are headed on the road for eight games, and the completion of Saturday's suspended game, in Greenville and Rome Thursday, August 18 through Thursday, August 25.
Last Night: Aderlin Rodriguez blasted a home run over the left field wall to give the Gnats a 3-2 victory in 13 innings over the Tourists. The two teams combined for just 10 hits total and were 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Asheville pitchers walked 10 batters, while the Gnats walked one.
Now Pitching: RHP Erik Goeddel is scheduled to make his third start since returning to the rotation after a strained right shoulder kept him out of action from May 23 through August 7. In his last two starts, he has yielded three runs on seven hits in eight innings with four walks and three strikeouts. The Mets drafted Goeddel in the 24th round of the 2010 draft out of UCLA. He made only one professional appearance in 2010, throwing one inning with a hit and a strikeout for the GCL Mets on August 14. Goeddel underwent Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school at San Jose's Bellarmine Prep in 2007 and missed most of the next two years at UCLA. In 2010 he was excellent for the Bruins out of the bullpen, striking out 59 and walking 23 while giving up 44 hits in 50 innings. In decimal form he had a 10.6 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and 7.9 H/9 at UCLA in 2010. Coming into the 2011 season, Goeddel was ranked as the Mets' 17th best prospect by Baseball America, and the team's 16th best by Baseball Prospectus. The Gnats are 6-3 when Goeddel starts and have supported him with 3.89 runs per game.
About Aderlin: The game-winning homer last night was Aderlin Rodriguez'sfirst hit in the three games against Asheville and just his second extra-base hit in the month of August in which he has hit .164/.179/.236 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 14 games. His last home run before last night was July 31.
Hot Like August: Albert Cordero is hitting .426/.458/.667 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and four walks against three strikeouts in 54 at-bats over 14 games in August.
Close and Late: The Gnats are now 4-5 in extra-inning games, 3-2 at home, with the win last night and 24-16 in one run games including 21-6 at home.
Playoff Scenario: The Gnats 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, with game three, if necessary, scheduled for Saturday, September 10. The number two seed will be the second half winner, or if the Gnats win the half, the team with the next best overall record. The Gnats currently lead the second half standings by 3.5 games over the Augusta GreenJackets, 5.0 games over the Greenville Drive and 5.5 games over the Asheville Tourists with 19 games to play in the half, plus the completion of Saturday's game for Savannah and Greenville. In terms of overall record, the Greenville Drive are currently 5.5 games better than the GreenJackets and 7.0 in front of the Tourists.
Strong Arms: The Gnats still lead the SAL in ERA (3.14), WHIP (1.20) and fewest hits allowed (905). The Gnats have allowed 293 fewer hits than the Tourists, who have yielded a league-most 1198. The Gnats are fifth in the SAL in strikeouts (936), and have allowed the seventh-fewest walks in the SAL (374). The Tourists are last in ERA (5.27), are ninth in strikeouts (884) and have allowed the fifth-most walks (432).
Vs. Asheville: The Gnats are 4-2 against the Tourists this year, 2-1 on the road and 2-1 at home. The two teams are only scheduled for seven games total, the Gnats' fewest against any of their division opponents. Among their divisional opponents, Savannah is scheduled for 23 games against Rome, 21 games against Augusta, 20 against Greenville, 18 against Lexington, and 15 against Charleston this year.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2011
- Tourists' Four-Run Sixth Downs Gnats 5-2 Wednesday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Outslug Braves, 9-6, in Series Finale - Greenville Drive
- Suns Win, 9-6, in Series Finale with Lexington - Hagerstown Suns
- BlueClaws Make It 3 Straight - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Two-Out Offense Powers West Virginia to Series Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Legends Hit Strasburg, But Lose to Suns 9-6 - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads Win Series with 3-2 Victory Against 'Dogs - Hickory Crawdads
- Errors Hurt Shorebirds in 5-4 Loss to Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hickory Teases Dogs in 3-2 Victory - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes: Wednesday, August 17 Vs. Asheville - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends Face Strasburg Tonight in Hagerstown - Lexington Legends
- Duvall Drives 8-4 Win as Jackets Earn Split - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Query Promoted to Lynchburg - Rome Emperors
- Corps of Cadets to Attend RiverDogs Game on August 23 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Nick Adenhart Night Raises More Than $6,000 - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorebirds Game Notes: at Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- 'Dads Announce 2012 Schedule - Hickory Crawdads
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