Gnats Series Preview: July 14-18 Vs. Greenville Drive
Published on July 13, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Probable Starters
Day Time Savannah Sand Gnats (8-11/50-39) Greenville Drive (13-6/49-40) Radio
Wed 7:05 LHP Darin Gorski (3-4, 3.77) LHP Drake Britton (0-1, 3.26) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Thu 7:05 RHP Taylor Whitenton (4-4, 3.66) RHP Ryan Pressly (3-5, 4.14) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Fri 7:05 RHP John Church (5-0, 1.01) LHP Manuel Rivera (2-7, 3.43) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Sat 6:05 RHP Armando Rodriguez (5-5, 3.03) RHP Pete Ruiz (5-6, 5.28) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Sun 6:05 RHP Collin McHugh (3-6, 3.31) RHP Kendall Volz (5-3, 4.11) News/Talk 630, sandgnats.com
Players to Watch
Savannah
3B Jefry Marte - Has an eight-game hitting streak over which time he is batting .469 (15 H/32 AB) with 4 doubles, 2 HR and 10 RBI.
RHP John Church - has not allowed an earned run since May 30, a span of 22.2 innings...has earned wins in each of his last two starts.
1B Travis Ozga - hitting .373/.421/.549 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in 16 games ... drove in 11 runs in five games against Asheville.
SS Wilfredo Tovar - has reached base safely in 17 of his 19 games as a Gnat... hitting .354/.408/.446 with 5 walks & 5 strikeouts.
Greenville
OF Ronald Bermudez - hit .600 (9 H/15 AB) with a triple, three home runs and nine RBI in five games vs. Savannah.
LHP Drake Britton - ranked as the #15 prospect in the Red Sox organization entering the season by Baseball America.
Series Preview
The first half champion Savannah Sand Gnats return home to Historic Grayson Stadium to begin a five-game series against the Greenville Drive, the Boston Red Sox SAL affiliate. This will be the second and final series between the two division rivals this year after Greenville took three of five games from Savannah at Fluor Field, June 29-July 3.
If the standings hold, this could be a playoff preview. Greenville sits in first place in the SAL Southern Division at 13-9 in the second half. By winning the first half, the Gnats will play the second half winner to begin the SAL playoffs on September 8. Greenville is 7-2 on the road in the second half while the Gnats, who were 24-11 at home in the first half, are just 3-6 at home in the second half.
This is a match-up of strength against strength. Gnats' pitching is still the best in the SAL with a 2.65 ERA, 0.61 better than second-place Lakewood. Savannah also leads the League in strikeouts with 764, 29 more than second-place Hickory. The Drive has the third-highest slugging percentage in the SAL (.389) and has drawn the fourth-most walks (286).
Upcoming Promotions
Wednesday: Baseball Bingo Win Great Prizes from the Gnats and their sponsors. Presented by Magic 103.9 and News/Talk 630.
Savannah Lion's Club Pack-the-Park for Charity.
Thursday: Thirsty Thursday - All beers and sodas are two-for-one thanks to Budweiser, Connect Savannah and Rock 106.1
Friday: St. Joe's/Candler T-shirt Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans. Celebrate Savannah's first playoff berth in 14 years with this special commemorative shirt. Come be a part of FRITOS® Family Fridays by attending the first Friday home games in June through August. Fans will be randomly selected to take part in special ballpark experiences like throwing out the first pitch.
Saturday: St. Patrick's Day in July... Post-game Fireworks presented by KIX 96...Saturday Night Live: music begins when gates open at 4:30.
Sunday: Kids Eat Free thanks to Subway and WRHQ Quality Rock 105.3.
Monday: Dollar Monday. $1 tickets, $1 small beers, sodas and hot dogs thanks to Food Lion, the Savannah Morning News & E93.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 13, 2010
- Gnats Series Preview: July 14-18 Vs. Greenville Drive - Savannah Sand Gnats
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