Gnats Game Notes
Published on August 30, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah Sand Gnats (27-34/69-62, 6th, Southern) @ Greensboro Grasshoppers (32-30/64-68), 2nd, Northern)
Game #132 - Road Game #67 - Monday - 7:00
RHP Taylor Whitenton (8-7, 3.90) vs. RHP Robert Morey (1-2, 2.50) NewBridge Bank Park, Greensboro, N.C.
Radio: News/Talk 630; sandgnats.com
Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats look to make it four in a row when they play game one of a four-game series in Greensboro, N.C. in the final road series of the regular season. The Gnats finish the home portion of their regular season with a four-game series against the Asheville Tourists Friday-Monday, September 3-6.
Last Game: The Gnats beat the Charleston RiverDogs 3-2 on Saturday evening to take three of four from their Southern Division rivals in the series. Armando Rodriguez, the SAL Pitcher of the Week, struck out nine and walked two while allowing just one hit in five innings.
Now Pitching: Taylor Whitenton will make his 17th start of the year this evening. Whitenton gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in his last start, an 8-0 Gnats' loss to Charleston last Wednesday. In August, Whitenton is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 30 strikeouts against 14 walks in 26 innings. His 2.08 ERA (6 ER/26 IP) in the month is his best of any month in 2010, ahead of his 2.40 ERA (8 ER/30 IP) in the month of May. Whitenton's 62 walks are tied for the fourth-most in the SAL. In his 11 starts since returning to the rotation over the All-Star Break, Whitenton is 5-5 with a 4.21 ERA (24 ER/41.1 IP) and 50 strikeouts against 31 walks. Last year, Whitenton threw five scoreless innings over four games in the Gulf Coast League, striking out seven, walking five and yielding just one hit. The Mets drafted Whitenton in the 39th round of the 2009 draft out of Darton (GA) College.
Roster Update: The Gnats swapped third-basemen on Monday. Brian Harrison was placed on the disabled list and 18-year old Aderlin Rodriguez was promoted from rookie-level Kingsport in the Appalachian League. Rodriguez was recently named the Kingsport Mets "Hitter of the Year." He hit .312/.352/.556 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 22 doubles, 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 61 games for the K-Mets. He was fifth in the Appy League in batting, fourth in slugging, second in doubles, third in home runs, second in RBI and third in total bases (139). Savannah has now been involved in 52 transactions in the second half after 29 in the first half.
Strong Arms: The Gnats still lead the SAL in ERA (3.05) although Lakewood (3.09) is just four hundredths behind. Savannah (1114) is 17 behind Lakewood (1131) for the top spot in strikeouts.
Vs. Greensboro: The Gnats are 2-1 against the Grasshoppers this year. The Gnats are 7-8 against Greensboro as a Mets affiliate. The last time Savannah played more than four games against Greensboro was 2005, when they were 6-2 against the Grasshoppers.
Playoff Chase: The Greenville Drive won two straight games from the Asheville Tourists Saturday and Sunday, and now leads Asheville by one game for first place and the right to face the Gnats in the first round of the SAL playoffs. The Augusta GreenJackets are 3.5 games back. The Gnats are 7-11 against Asheville and 4-6 against Greenville.
The Best of the Mets: The Gnats, at 69 wins, have set a new high as a Mets affiliate. The Gnats finished 41-94 in 2007, 61-76 in 2008 and 65-72 last year.
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 30, 2010
- Legendary Night for Lexington Bats Eclipses Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Dads Take Opener in Asheville, 6-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Suffer 3-1 Loss in 12 Innings to RiverDogs - Greenville Drive
- Tourists lose third in a row; 6-5 against Hickory - Asheville Tourists
- Heathcott's Shot Turbos Charleston Past Drive in 3-1 12-inning Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Score 9 in First, Beat Hagerstown 14-1 on Record-Setting Night for Goebbert - Lexington Legends
- Power Bats Enough to Beat Braves - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Lafrenz's Walk-Off Single in the Ninth Caps Claws 3-2 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Augusta Drops 3-2 Heartbreaker in Ninth - Augusta GreenJackets
- Stampone Lifts 'Birds to 5-4 Win in Game One - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Late Run Downs Intimidators 5-4 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Adds Catcher - Rome Emperors
- Rangers and Crawdads Extend Partnership Through 2012 - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Armando Rodriguez Named SAL Pitcher of the Week - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Thirsty Thursday Tailgate This Week - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws to Honor Toms River Little League World Series Team on Sunday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- USC Coach Ray Tanner to Appear at RiverDogs Game on September 1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Look to Clinch Playoff Spot with Strong Finish - Hickory Crawdads
- Spanjer-Furstenburg Placed on DL - Rome Emperors
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