Gnats Stop Skid, Head Home With 6-1 Win
Published on April 14, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Savannah Sand Gnats snapped their five-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Hickory Crawdads Thursday night in Hickory to head home to Historic Grayson Stadium for Opening Night - Friday, April 15 - on a winning note.
The Gnats (2-5) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Singles by DH Robbie Shields and CF Cory Vaughn put runners at first and second with one out. Shields scored on a throwing error by Hickory shortstop Jurickson Profar. C Albert Cordero then singled into left, driving home Vaughn to give the Gnats a 2-0 advantage. Cordero finished Thursday's game 3-4 with a home run and two RBI.
Two runs was enough for Savannah's pitching on Thursday, as Taylor Whitenton, making his first start of 2011, tossed five good innings. He gave up just one run on three hits, walking two and striking out five. Ryan Fraser, who started the second game of the year for the Gnats, added four scoreless innings with two strikeouts behind Whitenton.
Hickory (5-3) scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Gnats' advantage to 2-1. Profar tripled and DH Tomas Telis chased him home with a single into center field.
The Gnats blew the game open with a four-run top of the seventh. Cordero began the frame with a solo home run to left field for a 3-1 lead. SS Wilfredo Tovar followed with a double. LF Alonzo Harris doubled home Tovar to make it 4-1 and then Shields singled up middle scoring Harris. After Shields worked his way around the bases, he scored on 1B Sam Honeck's single into center for a 6-1 Gnats advantage. Honeck, who was 2-4, is hitting .480 (12 H/25 AB), second-best in the SAL.
The Gnats will hand the ball to RHP Yohan Almonte (0-1, 3.00) against RHP Brandon Workman (0-0, 0.00) against Greenville for Opening Night at Historic Grayson Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM Friday.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 14, 2011
- 'Gnats Avoid Sweep Against 'Dads In Series Finale - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Stop Skid, Head Home With 6-1 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends Shut Out Suns 7-0 - Lexington Legends
- Power Fall To Tourists, 4-2 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Patience at the Plate Pays off for Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- First Home Stand Ends with Braves Victory - Rome Emperors
- Drive Cap Homestand with Third Shutout - Greenville Drive
- Kannapolis Completes Sweep with 9-5 Win in Finale - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Doubles, Lack of Clutch Hits Doom Jackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- Dogs Muzzled Again, Greenville Wins 3-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Lakewood Splits Doubleheader Against Greensboro Wednesday Night - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, April 14 at Hickory - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Sanchez Placed on DL, McCoy Promoted from Staten Island - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Opening Night Is Tomorrow - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Alvarez Sent to Danville - Rome Emperors
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Add Third Baseball Camp Session - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Minor League Baseball⢠and KRAFT Singles Partner for Third Consecutive Season - Hagerstown Suns
- Intimidators First Home Stand Begins Friday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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