Gnats Game Notes
Published on June 2, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Tonight: The Gnats play game two of an eight-game homestand and game two of a four-game series against the Asheville Tourists. The Gnats are three games out of first place for the first time since April 15th, when they were 3-4.
Last Night: Tourists' starter Wes Musick no-hit the Gnats through 4.1 innings as Asheville beat Savannah 4-2. The Gnats scored their only two runs in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back sacrifice flies from SS Wilmer Flores and 3B Jefry Marte.
Now Pitching: Brandon Moore will make his ninth start for the Savannah Sand Gnats. The Gnats are 4-4 when Moore throws and have supported him with 3.4 runs per game, the lowest mark among all Gnats pitchers with five or more starts. Moore is ninth in the SAL with a 1.92 ERA, one of three Gnats in the top ten in the league in ERA. Moore leads the League in strikeouts with 67, five ahead of teammate Jimmy Fuller and in strikeout rate (11.69 K/9 IP). Moore was untouchable in May when he owned a 1.50 ERA in 36 innings over six starts. In May, Moore had a K/BB ratio of 12 (48 K/4 BB). Moore held Rome to one run on five hits in seven innings with ten strikeouts, but the Gnats were shutout 4-0. Moore was 6-3 with a 2.09 ERA in 82 innings over 13 starts for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2009, striking out 71 batters and walking 17. He threw the first no-hitter in Brooklyn Cyclones history on August 23, 2009 striking out six and walking three. The Brooklyn Cyclones beat the Aberdeen Ironbirds 5-0 in game one of a seven-inning doubleheader in Moore's no-hitter. The Mets drafted Moore in the 14th round out of Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008 where he was the Mid-Central College Conference Player of the Year. Moore struck out 104 batters in 76.2 IP, making his 12.8 K/9 IP second in the NAIA.
Vs. Asheville: The Gnats are 0-1 against the Tourists this year. The two teams are scheduled for 18 games this year, 14 of which will be played in the second half. The Gnats were 5-7 against the Tourists last year. The Gnats are 13-19 against the Tourists as a Mets affiliate.
Close Misses: Since reaching 12 games over .500 at 24-12 after beating Rome 3-0, on May 15, the Gnats are just 6-11 in their last 17 games despite being outscored by just six runs. Savannah has scored 53 runs (3.11 per game) and given up 59 (3.47 runs/game). The Gnats have also gone from up three in the standings to down three in that span.
Marte Mashes: Jefry Marte has now hit safely in seven straight games, over which time he is hitting .357 (10 H/28 AB) with one home run, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K and 6 R. After hitting .189/.302/.270 with three extra-base hits in 10 games in April, Marte hit .248/.331/.359 with seven extra-base hits in 28 games in May.
Top Arms: Savannah's pitching staff leads the SAL in ERA (2.53), WHIP (1.13) and strikeouts (491). The Gnats have yielded the fewest runs (177), despite throwing the most innings (502.1).
Roster Update: C Michael Moras was transferred to St. Lucie today. Moras has 20 AB this year, including nine for Savannah, but has been involved in six different transactions.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2010
- RiverDogs Walk Off in 10th Against 'Dads, 5-4 - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Triples Swat Gnats, 5-2 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- BlueClaws Come Back in Ninth at Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hagerstown Falters Late Against BlueClaws - Hagerstown Suns
- Heathcott's Walkoff RBI Single Crunches Crawdads, 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Blown Bases, Loaded Tries Haunt Jackets in Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Braves Hold Off Augusta - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Heathcott Transferred To Charleston, Milo Placed On DL - Charleston RiverDogs
- 1st-place 'Dads Tied For Top Record In SAL - Hickory Crawdads
- Legends Down Early, But Beat West Virginia 6-3 - Lexington Legends
- Shorebirds Level Series With 8-3 Win Over Grasshoppers - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators Drive Past Greenville - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Greenville Drive Game Notes - Greenville Drive
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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