Gnats Move One Win Away from Championship with 4-1 Win
Published on June 17, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
AUGUSTA, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats moved one win from clinching the first half championship with a 4-1 win Thursday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta. The Gnats (41-26) are now two games up on the Augusta GreenJackets (39-28) with three games remaining in this series and in the half.
The Gnats took a 1-0 lead two batters into the game when DH Pedro Zapata lined a single into center field and came home on 1B Michael Fisher's RBI double into the left-center field gap.
Augusta tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth, but CF Juan Lagares threw out a runner at the plate to end the inning and keep the game even.
The Gnats took advantage of sloppy Augusta defense in the middle innings to take the lead. RF Cesar Puello scored the go-ahead run in the fifth on an Augusta throwing error, the second GreenJackets miscue in the inning. Savannah made it 3-1 in the sixth with more help. SS Wilmer Flores singled into center and advanced to second on a passed ball, one of three on the night charged to GreenJackets' catcher Tommy Joseph. Flores moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Lagares' sacrifice fly to right-center.
Savannah added an insurance run in the ninth on a Zapata RBI single. The red-hot Zapata was 2-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
Gnats starter Armando Rodriguez held the GreenJackets to one run in 6.1 innings to improve to 5-4. Rodriguez departed with the tying runs on base, at first and third, with one out in the seventh inning, but reliever Erik Turgeon struck out two GreenJackets to end the threat. Turgeon then tossed a 1-2-3 eighth before Michael Powers worked around a leadoff single in the ninth, for his eighth save in eight chances this year.
The Gnats will send RHP Collin McHugh (2-4, 3.79) to the mound in game two of the series Friday against Augusta's Jorge Bucardo (6-2, 1.57). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 with the pre-game show on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com staring at 6:50.
Second Half:
After four games in Augusta, the Gnats are off Monday-Wednesday for the SAL All-Star Break. Savannah returns to action with a Thirsty Thursday at Historic Grayson Stadium on June 24 against the Asheville Tourists. All beers and sodas are 2-for-1 thanks to Budweiser, Connect Savannah and Rock 106.1.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2010
- Suns Fall in First Game of Final First-Half Series - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats Move One Win Away from Championship with 4-1 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Top Hagerstown, 7-5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Aren't Intimidated, Win 4-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Santana Leads 'Dads past Drive, 4-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Outhit Crawdads, but Lose 4-0 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Take MEGA Series Opener, 4-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Win Fourth Straight, 3-0 over Legends - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Braves Tame RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- Delmarva Takes Series Opener over Legends, 3-0 - Lexington Legends
- Rome Quiets RiverDogs, 6-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gnats Katz Accepts Challenge - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Adds Cunningham to Roster - Rome Emperors
- Brown Accepts Savannah's MEGA Series Challenge - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Game Notes: June 17 Vs. Lexington - Delmarva Shorebirds
- All-Star CF Miguel Velazquez to Participate in Home Run Derby - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Ramirez to DL, Milo Added to Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Releases 2010 Candidates - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws to Host Cole Bros. Circus, August 5-8 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Series Preview: June 17-20 at Augusta - Savannah Sand Gnats
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