Gnats Run Wild in 6-3 Win
Published on April 29, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats used their legs to improve to a league-best 14-8 record with a 6-3 win in front of 1,919 fans on Thirsty Thursday at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats stole a season-best six bases, and capitalized on five Lexington Legends errors and four wild pitches. Savannah's Alonzo Harris and Cesar Puello executed a doubled steal in the eighth inning that resulted in Puello stealing home.
The Legends got the scoring going by jumping on Gnats starter Jimmy Fuller for three runs in the top of the first inning. However, Fuller recovered and did not allow another run over his five innings of work. The three runs he allowed were the most in any of his five starts this year.
The Gnats and SS Wilmer Flores answered back in the bottom of the first. After CF Pedro Zapata reached on a fielding error by Legends' SS Jiovany Mier, Flores ripped his third home run of the year down the left field line. Flores hit three home runs in 125 games in 2009, but equaled that mark 22 games into the 2010 season.
Savannah evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Zapata scored on a wild pitch from Legends' reliever Arcenio Leon.
The Gnats took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring twice without a base hit. Dock Doyle walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Cesar Puello, was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with one out. Leon, the Lexington reliever, then made an errant pick off throw to second which careened into centerfield to allow Doyle to advance to third and Puello to follow him into second. With two outs, and runners at second and third, Gnats second baseman Alonzo Harris grounded a ball sharply to second, which the Legends' Jose Altuve couldn't handle. The error allowed Doyle to score from third with the go-ahead run and give the Gnats a 4-3 lead. Puello then scored on a wild pitch to put Savannah ahead 5-3.
Savannah finished up the game's scoring in the bottom of the eighth, when Puello stole home. With runners at first and third and one out, Harris took off for second base. Legends' catcher Jonathan Fixler threw down to second, where the throw was cut off by Lexington second baseman Altuve, who threw home to attempt to nail Puello. Puello beat the throw home with the Gnats' sixth run. Altuve's throw home was off the mark, allowing Harris to go to third on the throwing error.
The Gnats, who have won the first two games of the series, send LHP Mark Cohoon (3-0, 1.90) to the mound on Family Friday presented by Mix 102.1 against RHP Robby Donovan (1-2, 2.70) for Lexington. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. The radio pre-game show begins at 6:50 on News/Talk 630 and online at www.sandgnats.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 29, 2010
- Savannah Takes Second Straight from Legends, 6-3 - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Run Wild in 6-3 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Hits Come in Bunches as Drive Defeat Power, 9-3 - Greenville Drive
- Crawdads Blank RiverDogs, 4-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators Fall to Lakewood, 4-1 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Drop Heartbreaker, 2-1, to Tourists - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws Not Intimidated Thursday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads Pinch RiverDogs, 4-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Burn Jackets Again in Late Innings - Augusta GreenJackets
- Leon's Two-Run Single Gives Suns Win #1,999 - Hagerstown Suns
- Dale Earnhardt Tribute Car Unveiled At Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Calipari To Sign Empty Maker's Mark Bottles At Applebee's - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws Set To Kick Off Yankee/Met Week On Monday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds Game Notes: @ Asheville 4/29 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- "Eleventyseven" To Perform At Riley Park On May - Charleston RiverDogs
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