Gnats Game Notes
August 22, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (23-31/65-59, 6th, Southern) @ Asheville Tourists (33-21/62-61, 1st, Southern)
Game #125 - Road Game #64 - Sunday - 2:05
RHP John Church (7-1, 2.07) vs. RHP Chris Balcom-Miller (5-6, 3.09)
McCormick Field, Asheville, NC
Radio: News/Talk 630; sandgnats.com
Today: The first-half-champion Gnats play game two of a four-game series with the first place team in the second half, the Asheville Tourists, the SAL affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The Gnats return home to take on the Charleston RiverDogs on Wednesday.
Last Night: The Gnats dropped a wild 8-7 contest. Savannah scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 7-6 lead, but Asheville won it with two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth against Brandon Sage without the benefit of a base hit as the Gnats committed two errors.
Now Pitching: John Church will make his tenth start of the year after joining the rotation over the All-Star Break. He threw seven shutout innings in his last start in game one of a doubleheader on Monday against Kannapolis. He allowed just two base runners: a first inning single, and a fifth inning walk. Church's 2.07 ERA would be good enough for second in the SAL, but he is still 16.2 innings short of qualifying for the league leaders. Since moving into the rotation over the All-Star Break, Church is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA in nine starts with 35 strikeouts against 21 walks. Church made 21 relief appearances with Savannah last year and one with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League. With Savannah last year, Church was 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks in 29 innings. The Mets drafted Church in the 23rd round of the 2009 amateur draft out of the University of West Florida.
Road Data: The Gnats are 12-16 on the road in the second half after going 18-17 away from Historic Grayson Stadium in the first half.
Vs. Asheville: Savannah is 6-9 against Asheville, 3-6 at home and 3-3 on the road.
Last Night's Firsts: Last night, Robbie Shields drove home four runs in a game for the first time in his 25 games as a Gnat. He had driven home two runs in a game twice, including in his Savannah debut... His two doubles in a game were also a personal first ... Brian Harrison, who joined Savannah on Tuesday was 2-4 with a double, his first multi-hit game.
One Run Troubles: After last night's loss, the Gnats dropped to 13-22 in one-run games this year, and 2-15 on the road. The Gnats are also 5-12 in two-run games, 2-3 on the road.
Dekking it Out with Hits: Matt den Dekker has hit safely in 11 of his first 12 games as a Gnat, going .391 (18-for-46) with six doubles, nine runs scored, and nine RBI.
Still the Best: The Gnats still lead the SAL in ERA (2.92) and have allowed the fewest runs overall (993). Savannah and Lakewood are the only two teams who have not given up 1,000 runs.
Playoff Chase: The Asheville Tourists now lead the Greenville Drive by two games and the Augusta GreenJackets by three and a half games for first place in the Southern Division in the second half and the right to play the Gnats in the first round of the playoffs. The Gnats play seven more games against the Tourists, three in Asheville and four in Savannah over Labor Day weekend. In between, the Tourists play four crucial games in Greenville. Augusta does not play Asheville or Greenville again.
The Best of the Mets: The Gnats have tied their high in wins as a Mets affiliate. Savannah finished 41-94 in 2007, 61-76 in 2008 and 65-72 last year. Last year after 123 games, the Gnats were 60-63, five games behind this year's edition.
Playoff Schedule: By virtue of winning the first half, the Gnats will have home-field advantage in the Southern Division Championship Series. The second half winner will host game one on Wednesday, September 8 before the series returns to Savannah for game two on Friday, September 10 and game three, if necessary, on Saturday, September 11.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 22, 2010
- Wild Pitches Gives Drive 2-1 Win Over 'Dogs - Greenville Drive
- Greenville Wins Palmetto State Nailbiter, Nip RiverDogs, 2-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Augusta Bats Silenced Again in Third Straight Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Intimidators Sweep DH, Gain Ground - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Legends Take Second Straight Over Augusta - Lexington Legends
- Delmarva Takes Pitchers Duel Against 'Dads, 2-1 - Hickory Crawdads
- Bundy Hurls Another Gem in 2-0 Shorebirds Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Ramirez Homer Puts Suns on Top 9-7 - Hagerstown Suns
- Rally in Ninth Saves Braves - Rome Emperors
- Suns Tally Four in the Eighth, Best Lakewood 9-7 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fourth Rounder Mummey Joins Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
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