Gnats Game Notes
Published on May 31, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Today: The Gnats play a Memorial Day matinee in Rome to conclude a four-game series against the Braves. The Gnats enter play today two and a half games behind the Augusta GreenJackets, who were suspended yesterday trailing Asheville 3-2, for first place in the SAL Southern Division. It is the farthest Savannah has been from first place since the morning of April 15th, when the Gnats were three games out.
Yesterday: The Gnats and Braves split two games. Savannah scored five times in the seventh inning of the suspended game from Saturday night, to break a 1-1 tie, on the way to an 8-2 win. Rome countered in game two by scoring six unanswered runs to beat the Gnats 8-4.
Now Pitching: Armando Rodriguez will make his 11th start for Savannah this evening. The Gnats are 5-5 when Rodriguez throws and have supported him with 4.8 runs per game. Rodriguez gave up three runs, all earned on seven hits in 5.1 innings in his last start versus Kannapolis. The Gnats won the game 5-4 in 14 innings. With Kingsport a year ago, he was 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 20 walks in 45.2 innings. Promoted to Savannah on August 27th, he finished the year with a dominant three-start performance in which he allowed just five hits in 16.2 innings and struck out 24. The Mets signed Rodriguez as a non-drafted free agent June 6, 2007.
Vs. Rome: The Gnats are 8-3 against Rome this year, 4-0 at home and 4-3 in Rome. The two teams are scheduled for 23 games this season. The Gnats and Braves split the season series 11-11 last year and the Gnats are 37-46 against Rome as a Mets affiliate.
Roster Update: Yesterday, RHP Samuel Martinez and LHP Mark Cohoon were transferred to the SSA Brooklyn roster to make room for infielders Alex Gregory and Michael Fisher. Fisher, who began his career as a member of the Braves organization hit .238/.293/.296 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 17 doubles and two home runs last year in 113 games in Myrtle Beach. He hit .253/.311/.334 with 20 doubles and four home runs in 123 games with Rome in 2008.
Top Arms: Savannah's pitching staff leads the SAL in ERA (2.55), WHIP (1.14) and strikeouts (476). The Gnats have yielded the fewest runs (171), despite throwing the most innings (484.1).
Location Matters: The Gnats finished April at 15-8, 9-6 at home and 6-2 on the road. Savannah has continued to play well at Historic Grayson Stadium, going 7-2 at home in May, but the Gnats are just 7-12 on the road in May.
Marte Maturing: Jefry Marte who homered yesterday, has now hit safely in five straight games, over which time he is hitting .300 (6H/20 AB). After hitting .189 (7 H/37 AB) with three extra-base hits in 10 games in April, Marte is up to .232 (26 H/112 AB) with seven extra-base hits in 27 games in May.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 31, 2010
- Hoppers Homers Lead to Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Series Preview: June 1-4 vs. Asheville - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Jackets, Tourists Dodge Drops in Wins - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns Shut Down Drive 4-0 - Hagerstown Suns
- BlueClaws Defeat Shorebirds - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Lakewood Cruises To 14-3 Victory In Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Shutout By Suns, 4-0, Split Series - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Win Finale - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Blast Crawdads in Rain-Shortened Contest - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Dads Lose Rain-Shortened Game In West Virginia - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators May 31st Game Is Cancelled - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Charleston-Kannapolis Finale Canceled Due To Rain - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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