GreenJackets Bite Gnats with Two-Run Eighth for 4-3
August 1, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets scored two runs in the top of the eighth to come from behind to beat the Savannah Sand Gnats 4-3 Monday night in front of 1,980 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. With the win, the GreenJackets (20-16/51-55) closed within two and a half games of the Gnats (23-14/62-44) for first place in the Southern Division second half standings.
The Gnats took a 3-2 lead into the eighth with reliever Ronny Morla on the hill. GreenJackets' 2B Carlos Willoughby tripled into the right field corner to lead off the eighth. Willoughby scored the tying run on an RBI single by RF Ryan Lollis. Lollis went to third on Gnats' shortstop Wilfredo Tovar's errant throw to second on a subsequent ground ball. Lollis then scored the go-ahead run on 1B Ryan Scoma's RBI groundout.
Gnats' 2B Luis Nieves either scored or drove home all thee Savannah runs Monday. With two runners aboard in the second, his two-run triple to left-center field put the Gnats in front at 2-1. In the fourth, he bunted for a single and then came around to score on a throwing error on Augusta third baseman Josh Mazzola. Down 4-3 in the ninth, Nieves led off with a single to shallow right, but was stranded at second as the tying run to end the game.
Gnats' starter Angel Cuan went a personal season-high 6.2 innings, yielding two runs on five hits, but was not involved with the decision. Ronny Morla was charged with his third loss of the year.
The GreenJackets bullpen combined on four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while recording three strikeouts. Austin Fleet worked two innings, the sixth and seventh, to earn the win, improving to 7-3.
The Gnats play game two of their four-game series against the GreenJackets Tuesday when RHP Yohan Almonte (4-6, 3.77) heads to the hill against Augusta LHP Gaspar Santiago (3-5, 4.11). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm and gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 6:50 pm.
Tuesday: KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets and Two-for-Tuesday
KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets: Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Sand Gnats game on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal! Visit kraftsingles.com for more info! Exclusions apply.
Two-for-Tuesday: Two-for-One Natty Lights!
South Atlantic League Stories from August 1, 2011
- Legends Overcome Six Errors, Win 8-7 - Lexington Legends
- 'Dads Outshine Suns, 14-13, in 10 Innings - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Bite Gnats with Two-Run Eighth for 4-3 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Grasshoppers No Match for Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Drive Drop One-Run Game, 3-2, to Rome Braves - Greenville Drive
- Willoughby and Lollis Spark Comeback Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Sanchez Sends Tourists Packing in Series Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Late Inning Magic Lifts Braves in Series Opener - Rome Emperors
- Shorebirds Blank BlueClaws 4-0 in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws Shutout 4-0 by Delmarva - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads in First Place Heading into August - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, August 1 Vs. Augusta - Savannah Sand Gnats
- MiLB.com Hosts 5th Annual "Moniker Madness" Bracket Tournament - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Rome Braves Launch Shoe Drive - Rome Emperors
- Buchanan Promoted to Clearwater - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Roof Man Returns; Blood Drive August 20th - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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