Gnats Take MEGA Series Opener, 4-1
Published on June 17, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats took game one of the Georgia MEGA Series by a 4-1 score over the Augusta GreenJackets in front of 4,148 fans at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Thursday night. The GreenJackets now must win all three of the remaining games in the series to win the Southern Division First Half Championship.
Savannah struck first off Chris Heston on the first two hitters of the game. Michael Fisher's double scored Pedro Zapata from second to give the Gnats a 1-0 advantage. The GreenJackets tied things up on three hits in the fourth with the equalizer coming on a wild pitch that scored Chris Dominguez from third. On the inning's third hit, Daniel Cook singled to center with two outs. Ryan Cavan tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Juan Lagares to preserve the tie.
The play at the plate would prove to be a watershed moment in the game as the Sand Gnats took the lead on a pair of Augusta errors in the fifth and never looked back. The lead grew to two on a Lagares sacrifice fly in the sixth and to three on a Zapata run-scoring single in the ninth.
The Jackets would get just two hits after the Cook single in the fourth and were effectively shut down by a trio of Sand Gnats hurlers. Starter Armando Rodriguez (5-4) threw 6.1 innings and allowed an earned run on six hits and three walks, striking out six. Eric Turgeon didn't give up anything through 1.2 innings before handing things over to Michael Powers who struck out two in the ninth en route to his eighth save of the season in as many tries.
For his second straight start, Heston emerged as the bad luck loser on a night where he pitched really well. Heston (2-7) struck out six and walked just one in 6.1 innings - his longest start since his first win of the year on April 14th against the Sand Gnats. He allowed three runs - one earned - on five hits in the loss.
With their backs to the wall, the GreenJackets send Jorge Bucardo (6-2, 1.57) to the mound in an elimination game to face Collin McHugh (2-4, 3.79). First pitch will come at 7:05 p.m. with the pregame action beginning at 6:50 p.m. on WRDW AM 1630, www.greenjacketsbaseball.com and www.wrdwam.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2010
- Suns Fall in First Game of Final First-Half Series - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats Move One Win Away from Championship with 4-1 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Top Hagerstown, 7-5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Aren't Intimidated, Win 4-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Santana Leads 'Dads past Drive, 4-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Outhit Crawdads, but Lose 4-0 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Take MEGA Series Opener, 4-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Win Fourth Straight, 3-0 over Legends - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Braves Tame RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- Delmarva Takes Series Opener over Legends, 3-0 - Lexington Legends
- Rome Quiets RiverDogs, 6-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gnats Katz Accepts Challenge - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Adds Cunningham to Roster - Rome Emperors
- Brown Accepts Savannah's MEGA Series Challenge - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Game Notes: June 17 Vs. Lexington - Delmarva Shorebirds
- All-Star CF Miguel Velazquez to Participate in Home Run Derby - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Ramirez to DL, Milo Added to Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Releases 2010 Candidates - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws to Host Cole Bros. Circus, August 5-8 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Series Preview: June 17-20 at Augusta - Savannah Sand Gnats
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