Montz draws ninth-inning bases loaded walk to beat Hickory 2-1
Published on July 2, 2005 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - With 1,702 screaming Gnats fans on their feet, Savannah catcher Luke Montz drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Hickory Crawdads 2-1. In one of the most exciting games played this year at Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah and Hickory got off to fast starts with each team plating a run in the first. Crawdad center fielder Pedro Powell led off the game with a single and a stolen base to set up Hickory's only run of the night. Powell crossed the plate when the next hitter, shortstop Brian Bixler lined a double down the left field line. With one out in the bottom of the frame, Gnats shortstop Ian Desmond singled and advanced to third on Steve Mortimer's base hit to deep left. Desmond scored on an Edgardo Baez sacrifice fly to left to even the score at one. Gnats' starter Daryl Thompson and the Crawdads Yoann Torrealba shut down all offense after the tumultuous inaugural inning. Thompson threw six solid, striking out a season-high seven before reliever Ben Cox spun a pair of scoreless innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Hickory reliever Dustin Craig set the table by hitting Desmond and Mortimer. Baez followed by laying down a textbook sacrifice bunt advancing his teammates 90 feet. Craig opted to walk third baseman Brad Ditter to load the bases for Montz. Montz blasted a pair of shots just foul down the left field line before working the count full and drawing the game-winning base on balls. With the win Savannah snaps a four-game losing streak and moves to 4-5 for the second half of the South Atlantic League season, Savannah and Hickory close the book on the four-game set and the season series Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the Gnats box office at 912-351-9150.
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