Gnats Playoff Series Preview: September 8-11 Vs. the Greenville Drive
September 7, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Probable Starters
Day Time Savannah Sand Gnats (33-36/75-64) Greenville Drive (41-28/77-62) Radio
Wed 7:00 RHP Armando Rodriguez (8-9, 3.08) LHP Drake Britton (2-3, 2.97) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Fri 7:05 RHP Taylor Whitenton (8-9, 4.57) RHP Chris Balcom-Miller (7-7, 3.30) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Sat** 6:05 RHP Collin McHugh (7-8, 3.33) TBA News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
**If Necessary**
Players to Watch
Savannah
SS Robbie Shields - Has hit safely in 7 straight games, going .438 (14-for-32) with 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 R, and 8 RBI
RHP Armando Rodriguez -#3 in SAL in ERA (3.08), #1 strikeouts (152), #5 in innings pitched (146), #3 in opp batting average (.214)
RHP Collin McHugh - has not allowed a run in his last 14 innings pitched.
Greenville
RHP Chris Balcom-Miller - traded from Rockies (Asheville) to Red Sox (Greenville) for Manny Delcarmen... #5 in SAL in ERA (3.30)
LHP Drake Britton - Baseball America #15 prospect in Red Sox organization...underwent Tommy John surgery in 2008
Series Preview
The first half champion Gnats begin the best-of-three Southern Division Championship Series Wednesday night in Greenville, SC against the second half champion Greenville Drive. The series returns to Savannah's Historic Grayson Stadium Friday night for game two, and, if necessary, game three on Saturday night. It is the first trip to the playoffs for Savannah since 1996 when the Gnats won the SAL Championship as the wild card. The first half championship was the first for the Savannah franchise since 1994 when the Savannah Cardinals won both halves and won the SAL Championship. Savannah's 75 wins in the regular season were the most for a Savannah team since the 1994 team finished 82-55. Savannah won its first SAL Championship in 1906 and has won 10 league titles.
Savannah was 4-6 against Greenville this year, going 2-3, both at home and on the road, in a pair of five-game series. The Drive outscored the Gnats 42-38 in the teams' 10 games. All three Savannah starters scheduled for this playoff series had success against Greenville. Armando Rodriguez was 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA (4 ER/13 IP) with 11 strikeouts and two walks in two starts, while Taylor Whitenton was 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA (3 ER/10 IP) with nine strikeouts against six walks in two starts and Collin McHugh was 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA (2 ER/9.2 IP) with eight strikeouts and four walks in one start and one relief appearance. The Drive's game one starter, LHP Drake Britton was 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7 IP) with seven strikeouts and no walks against the Gnats in two starts.
Both teams, the Gnats and Drive feature strong run prevention. The Gnats had the second-best ERA (3.04) in the SAL and allowed the fewest runs (535) overall. Greenville's team ERA of 3.68 was eighth, but the staff allowed the fourth-fewest runs (592) in the SAL.
Offensively, both the Gnats and Drive were in the bottom five in the SAL in slugging percentage, but were the two most efficient base-stealing units in the League. The Drive was successful 79% of the time while the Gnats were successful in 75% of their attempts. Greenville led the SAL in stolen bases (241) and walks (485). The Gnats offense relied on making contact as the team's 1020 strikeouts were fourth-fewest.
The last Mets SAL affiliate to make the playoffs was the 2005 Hagerstown Suns, who beat Delmarva 2-1 in the Northern Division Finals before falling 3-1 to Kannapolis in the SAL Championship Series.
Last year, Greenville swept Asheville 2-0 in the Southern Division Championship Series before falling to Lakewood three games to one in the SAL Championship Series.
Upcoming Promotions
Friday: Vuvuzela Giveaway Presented by Tate Law Group - The first 1,000 fans through the gates at Historic Grayson Stadium will receive a Vuvuzela horn thanks to the Tate Law Group. Vuvuzelas attracted international attention for their loud, unique sound at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Marine Corps Promotional Night - Get a FREE General Admission ticket with a Marine Corps ID.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 7, 2010
- Gnats Playoff Series Preview: September 8-11 Vs. the Greenville Drive - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gnats Playoff Series Preview: September 8-11 vs. the Greenville Drive - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 2010 Charleston RiverDogs Season Recap - Charleston RiverDogs
- Rodriguez Takes Home SAL Honors for 2nd Straight Week - Greenville Drive
- Claws Win 10th Straight Attendance Crown; Deangelis, Carone Honored - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Nick Brown Named SAL GM of the Year - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Light Up As Curtains Close, Win 7-3 - Hagerstown Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
