Gnats Treat Opening Night Crowd to Thrilling 4-3 Win
Published on April 15, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - In front of their largest home crowd in two years, the Savannah Sand Gnats won a thrilling 4-3 game over the Greenville Drive Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The paid attendance of 4,313 was the largest for Savannah since drawing 4,780 fans on Opening Night, April 9th, 2009.
The Gnats offense gave the big crowd something to cheer early with a pair of first-inning home runs. LF Alonzo Harris led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot. After SS Robbie Shields drew a walk, CF Cory Vaughn pounded a hanging curveball from Greenville Drive starter Brandon Workman down the left field line for a two-run home run and a 3-0 Gnats advantage.
Alonzo Harris' speed gave the Gnats their fourth run in the third inning. Harris dropped a bunt down the third base line for a single, then stole second on the first pitch of the next at bat, and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Robbie Shields.
Meanwhile, on the hill, Savannah starter RHP Yohan Almonte was cruising. After giving up a one-out double in the second inning, Almonte retired 12 straight batters through one out in the sixth. In the sixth, after a pair of singles, Drive RF Lucas Leblanc dumped a single into shallow right field. Drive 3B Jason Thompson scored Greenville's first run, but Gnats RF Javier Rodriguez short-circuited a potential rally by throwing a strike to third base to nail the middle runner and end the inning.
Almonte departed after six innings, having allowed just one run on four hits, and eventually earned the win, although the game tightened in his absence. The Drive scored twice off reliever Guillaume Leduc in the seventh to pull within a run. After Gabriel Zavala worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning for Savannah, the Gnats handed the ball to Josh Edgin for the ninth with a 4-3 advantage. After getting a leadoff groundout, the Drive loaded the bases on a walk, a single and another walk to push the tying run to third and the potential go-ahead run to second base with one out. After a visit from pitching coach Glenn Abbott, Edgin struck out C Carson Blair looking for the second out. He then fell behind the ninth place hitter, Jason Thompson 3-0. Again, Edgin recovered, bringing the crowd to their feet for the 3-2 offering, a fastball he blew past Thompson sealing the Savannah victory.
The Gnats will start RHP Erik Goeddel (0-1, 9.00) Saturday against Drive RHP Miguel Celestino (0-0, 1.80). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm and gates will open at 5 pm. The pregame show will begin on News/Talk 630 at 5:50 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 15, 2011
- Suns Darkened by BlueClaws on 2011 Home Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Stage Wild Rally to Top Rome, 9-8, in Ten Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- GreenJackets Earn 5-3 Home Opener Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Asheville tops Legends in rain-shortened game, 2-1 - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Treat Opening Night Crowd to Thrilling 4-3 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Drop First Road Game in Heartbreaking Fashion, 4-3 - Greenville Drive
- Intimidators edge 'Dads, 5-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- BlueClaws Win Road Opener 8-4 over Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Intimidators win home opener - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Pettit Dominates Grasshoppers in 6-2 Shorebirds' Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes: Friday, April 15 Vs. Greenville - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Braves to Participate in Strike out Hunger - Rome Emperors
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Alvarez Rejoins Rome - Rome Emperors
- Intimidators Return from Road Trip with League-Best 6-1 Record - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Hagerstown Stifled in Game Four Finale as Lexington Wins a Shutout - Hagerstown Suns
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