Gnats Home Stand Preview: Savannah Finishes Home Portion of Schedule

Published on August 25, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Upcoming Promotions

Friday, August 26

FREE Facebook Friday

The Gnats will give a free General Admission ticket to all of our Facebook fans! Simply like the Gnats on Facebook to get your ticket and RSVP to the event set up for Friday's game. The Gnats, in conjunction with Southern Eagle Distributing will donate $1.00 to America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia for every Facebook ticket redeemed if the Gnats reach 7,500 "Likes" on Facebook by Thursday, August 26.

Kids Club Family Night

All Kids Club Members receive four General Admission tickets to all FIVE Kids Club Family Nights

Family Friday Presented by KIX96 & E93

Kids Run the Bases After the Game

$500 Lucky Hot Dog Giveaway

Some of our hot dogs will be wrapped with cash. Will you get lucky'

Saturday, August 27

Saturday Night Fireworks Presented by KIX96

Stay late for an awesome post-game Fireworks display!

Blood Drive Presented by Blood Alliance

Pick up a FREE Sand Gnats ticket when you donate blood at the Blood Alliance Blood Drive at Historic Grayson Stadium!

Sunday, August 28

Kids Eat Free Presented by Subway

All Kids 12-years old and younger receive a FREE hot dog, bag of chips and a drink! Kids run the bases after the game!

Bark in the Park

Bring your pooch to the park every Sunday!

Season-Seat Holder Batting Practice and Team Luncheon

Season Seat Holders can RSVP by calling the Gnats ticket department at (912) 351-9150.

Monday, August 29

Dollar Monday Presented by Kroger, Savannah Morning News, E93

General Admission tickets are just $1 with Kroger Plus Cards or with coupons available in area Kroger locations, in the Savannah Morning News, or online at savannahnow.com and e93fm.com. Hot Dogs, small Natty Lights and sodas, and chips are all $1 at the game. The first 100 families will receive a free reusable grocery bag courtesy of Kroger.

Tuesday, August 30

Two-for-Tuesday Presented by Natty Light

Two-for-One Natty Lights!

KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets

KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets: Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Sand Gnats game onTuesdays for a steal of a deal! Visit kraftsingles.com for more info! Exclusions apply

Probable Starters

Day Time Gnats Starter RiverDogs Starter

Fri 7:05 LHP Angel Cuan (10-3, 3.50) RHP Mike Gipson (0-2, 5.84)

Sat 6:05 RHP Erik Goeddel (2-4, 3.39) TBA

Sun 2:05 RHP Yohan Almonte (7-7, 4.02) LHP Vidal Nuno (1-1, 2.67)

Mon 7:05 RHP Gonzalez Germen (7-6, 3.44) RHP Nathan Forer (2-7, 4.45)

Tue 7:05 RHP Taylor Whitenton (4-3, 2.70) RHP Manny Barreda (4-2, 4.03)

Players to Watch

Savannah

SS Wilfredo Tovar: hitting .321/.394/.407 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with five stolen bases in 21 games in August

C Albert Cordero: hitting .328/.361/.453 in 49 games in the second half with 14 extra-base hits after eight extra-base hits in 45 games in the first half

LHP Angel Cuan: 8th in the SAL in ERA... thrown six innings or more in 10 of his last 11 starts... 5th in the SAL in WHIP 1.15

Charleston

C Gary Sanchez: tied for 9th in the SAL in HR (17).

RHP Shane Greene: 9th in the SAL with 108 strikeouts.

Series Preview

The First-Half Champion Gnats finish the home portion of their 2011 regular season schedule with five games Friday through Tuesday against their Southern Division rival Charleston RiverDogs. While the Gnats enter Thursday's play alone in first place with a record of 35-24 in the second half and 74-54 overall, the 'Dogs enter play in sixth place in the second half at 24-35 and 50-79 for the year, the worst record in the South Atlantic League. The RiverDogs at .388, are the only SAL team with a winning percentage below .400.

The Gnats have played just three series against the RiverDogs in 2011, and this will be Charleston's second visit to Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats are 6-4 against the RiverDogs this season, 3-0 at home and 3-4 on the road. Savannah swept three games from Charleston May 29-31, outscoring the 'Dogs 8-4 in the three games in Savannah. The last time the teams faced off, the two teams split four games in Charleston August 5-8.

All year long, the Gnats have been led by the South Atlantic League's best pitching staff, which enters Thursday's game with a 3.19 ERA. The RiverDogs are 9th in the SAL in ERA at 4.22. However, Charleston pitching has struck the second-most batters in the SAL (1084) while the Gnats are fifth (981). The Gnats have compensated by throwing more strikes, the team has allowed the sixth-fewest walks in the SAL while Charleston is 11th in the 14-team league in walks allowed (468).

On the offensive side, the RiverDogs are 11th in the SAL in runs scored (560) while the Gnats are 14th (511), now just seven runs behind Lakewood for 13th. Charleston is 8th in home runs hit (87); the Gnats are 12th (61). However, removing the effect of ballpark, and comparing only road games makes the Gnats' offense appear more powerful. Savannah has hit 48 homeruns on the road compared to 46 for the RiverDogs. The Gnats are 7th in the SAL in walks drawn (412); the 'Dogs are tied for 9th (398).

The Gnats will open the 2011 playoffs on the road on Wednesday, September 7 and return home to Historic Grayson Stadium on Friday, September 9 for game two of the Southern Division Championship Series. Game three if necessary will be Saturday, September 10.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 25, 2011


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