Power Edge Gnats 4-3 in 12 Innings Wednesday
Published on July 20, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - The West Virginia Power survived a furious Gnats eighth-inning comeback to defeat Savannah 4-3 in 12 innings in front of 2,059 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium Wednesday evening. The Gnats (15-11/54-11) have now dropped four games in a row for the first time in the second half. The Power (10-16/45-49) have won four of their last five games.
In the 12th, Savannah reliever Ronny Morla issued a leadoff walk to Power 3B Chase Lyles. Lyles advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. With two outs, RF Daniel Grovatt rolled a ball 60 feet up the third base line for an infield hit that brought home Lyles with the winning run. Grovatt ended up at second on the play when 1B Joe Bonfe could not handle 3B Aderlin Rodriguez's throw.
Down 3-0, the Gnats evened the game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The first five hitters all reached base safely. Singles from C Albert Cordero and Bonfe sandwiched around a Rodriguez double loaded the bases for the bottom of the order. Cordero scored on a passed ball and Rodriguez scored the second on 2B Luis Nieves' single into left field. After an Alonzo Harris infield single to reload the bases, CF Darrell Ceciliani brought home the tying run with an RBI groundout to second base. However, the next three batters, SS Wilfredo Tovar, RF Rafael Fernandezand C Blake Forsythe could not get the big hit to put the Gnats in front.
Both starting pitchers were brilliant Wednesday. Savannah starter Gonzalez Germen allowed just a first-inning single in his five innings of work while facing one batter over the minimum. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. Power starter Zack Von Rosenberg was even better, taking a perfect game into the sixth when Harris' two-out single to center field interrupted Rosenberg's bid for perfection.
The Power broke through with two runs on one hit and two walks in the sixth inning against reliever Michael Hebert and added another run in the seventh to make it 3-0 on Chase Lyles' RBI double.
The top four hitters in the Savannah batting order finished a combined 0-for-19 with eight strikeouts.
The Gnats will play game two of their three-game series against the Power Thursday night when LHP Angel Cuan (8-1, 3.81) takes on RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.13), who the Pirates selected second overall in the 2010 draft, Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm and gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com begins at the 6:50.
Tomorrow: Thirsty Thursday and Happy Hour
Thirsty Thursday - Half-price on all small sodas and small beers all night long, presented by Budweiser & I-95
Happy Hour - $0.50 Natty Lights & $3.00 Captain and Cokes from 6pm to first pitch on Land Shark Landing at the Captain Morgan's Cove Bar, presented by Tubby's of Thunderbolt.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 20, 2011
- Grasshoppers Spring by Crawdads in Series Opener - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Edge Gnats 4-3 in 12 Innings Wednesday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Charleston Takes Series Opener Over Legends 6-5 - Lexington Legends
- Strong Start by Cole Goes by Wayside, Suns Lose 5-2 - Hagerstown Suns
- Feliz Flaunts Power Stroke as 'Dogs Down Legends, 6-5 - Charleston RiverDogs
- GreenJackets Outshine Suns; Win 11th Straight - Augusta GreenJackets
- Kempf's Seven Shutout Innings Leads Braves to Victory - Rome Emperors
- Pitching Leads Rome to 6-1 Win Over Delmarva - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Game Notes: Wednesday, July 20 Vs West Virginia - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Blasted by BlueClaws, 8-2, in Series Opener - Greenville Drive
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes: at Rome - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws Win 8-2 on Wednesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Brad Lidge to Pitch for 'Claws this Morning - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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