Gnats Put Tourists Down for a Knapp on Friday
July 31, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats won their fifth straight game with a 8-3 victory over the Asheville Tourists Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats have won eight of their last ten games.
The Gnats (17-16/56-47) capitalized on two errors from the Tourist to score five runs and take the lead for good in the seventh inning on Friday. Asheville reliever Blake Shouse (3-1) entered a tied game in the seventh and threw just five pitches before the Gnats plated two runs off of a SAC-bunt from second baseman Jonathan Johnson. Shouse and right fielder Yonathan Daza threw two errors on the bunt from Johnson allowing him to reach third.
Doubles from right fielder Wuilmer Becerra and first baseman Michael Katz each scored runs in the seventh and John Mora's 12th triple of the season helped drive in the Gnats' 8th run of the night. Mora extended his hitting streak to ten games and has reached safely in 13 straight.
The Tourists (20-13/52-51) score all three of their runs when they loaded the bases in the fifth inning. Asheville took advantage of a throwing error by the Gnats to allow leadoff man 3B Jairo Rosario to reach safely. Rosario came around to tie the game at one run apiece. The Tourists plated two more runs in the inning on an RBI-single from DH Shane Hoelscher.
Sand Gnats starter Ricky Knapp (5-2) took home the win after pitching 7.0 solid innings allowing just three unearned runs on six hits. Knapp struck out four and walked one.
Savannah struck first on a ground ball from Johnson in the third inning. The Sand Gnats loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth on three singles and scored a run on a wild pitch by Tourists' starter Grahamm Wiest. Wiest got wild again in the sixth allowing Becerra to move to third on his second wild pitch. Katz scored Becerra to tie the game at three with an RBI-single.
Gnats' relievers Ben Griset and Luis Mateo each tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout apiece. Friday was Mateo's Sand Gnats debut.
The Sand Gnats and Asheville Tourists will continue their four-game series tomorrow at 6:05pm. The Gnats will send RHP Casey Delgado (4-3, 3.90), while the Tourists will send RHP Carlos Polanco (7-8, 4.34) to the hill. Saturday will be St. Joseph's/Candler Community Night at Historic Grayson Stadium with a Personal Care Item/Paper Goods Drive. Fans can donate personal care items and paper goods for free admission to Saturday's game. Gates will open at 5pm and there will be a fantastic fireworks show after the game.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2015
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- Gnats Put Tourists Down for a Knapp on Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Defeat Legends, 4-2 - Greenville Drive
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- Garcia, Pen Freeze Lakewood Bats - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Fail to Score in Twin Bill against Delmarva, Fall 4-0, 2-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes: July 31, 2015 vs. Lakewood - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Rangers Trade 3 Former 'Dads to Phillies - Hickory Crawdads
- 8th Inning Rally Falls Short in 'Dads 8-6 Loss - Hickory Crawdads
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