Gnats Triumph 9-3 on Opening Night
Published on April 8, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats rapped out 13 hits to beat the West Virginia Power by a score of 13-9 in front of a crowd of 3,539 at Historic Grayson Stadium on Opening Night 2010.
The teams exchanged runs in the first inning, before the Juan Lagares doubled home two runs in the third inning to put the Gnats ahead 3-1. In the third, shortstop Wilmer Flores singled and first baseman Jeff Flagg hit a ground rule double into the right-field corner to put two runners on for Lagares. Flores was 3-5 and scored two runs, while Flagg was 3-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Gnats starter Armando Rodriguez held the Power in check through four innings. He allowed just one unearned run in the first inning, while striking out five Power batters.
West Virginia tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth on a two-run double to right-center field by first baseman Aaron Baker. Baker was 2-4 with 3 RBI.
The Gnats struck right back with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth against Power reliever Jeff Inman to take a 5-3 lead as the rain arrived at Historic Grayson Stadium. In the fifth, Flores, led off with a sharp single to left and Flagg followed with a single to right that chased Flores to third. Flores scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. With the rain coming down, and the infield in after Flagg reached third on a passed ball, rightfielder Cesar Puello fisted a single over second baseman Jarek Cunningham's head to bring home Flagg.
After Lance Hoge worked around two baserunners in the top of the sixth, the intensity of the rain increased dramatically, forcing a rain delay of 44 minutes. Hoge earned the win despite giving up two runs on three hits in two innings of work.
Following the rain delay, Savannah tacked on two runs in the sixth on a throwing error by West Virginia catcher Ramon Cabrera and two more in the eighth on RBI singles from Rafael Fernandez and Juan Lagares.
Family Friday:
The Gnats and the Power play game two of the season on Friday at 7:05 PM on a Family Friday, presented by Mix 102.1. LHP Jimmy Fuller will throw for the Gnats against LHP Nathan Baker for the Power. The Gnats pre-game show begins at 6:45 on WBMQ News/Talk 630.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 8, 2010
- Gnats Triumph 9-3 on Opening Night - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Legends Drop Opener in Charleston, 5-2 - Lexington Legends
- Shorebirds Fall 5-4 to Greenville on Opening Night - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws Defeat Tourists 10-7 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- RiverDogs Discredit Legends 5-2 in Season Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Crawdads drop rain-shortened Opening Night game in Hagerstown, 1-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Lead Through Five in Suspended Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
- April 8th Game Postponed, Doubleheader On Friday, April 9th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Get Your Famiy 4-Packs And Much More At The Open House Saturday - Hickory Crawdads
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tickets For Ryan Howard No. 29 Retirement On Sale Saturday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Pete Van Wieren To Throw Ceremonial First Pitch - Rome Emperors
- RiverDogs Announce 2010 Opening Day Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
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