Power Sweep Gnats Sunday
Published on April 10, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
CHARLESTON, WV - The West Virginia Power swept a doubleheader from the Savannah Sand Gnats Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park by scores of 9-1 in game one and 2-0 in game two. The Gnats (1-2) now head to Hickory, NC for a four-game series this week against the Hickory Crawdads before coming home for Opening Night 2011, Friday April 15, at Historic Grayson Stadium.
The West Virginia Power (2-1) broke a 1-1 tie in game one with a seven-run fourth inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead. With a runner on first, the second batter of the inning, 3B Eric Avila, lined a shot off the arm of Savannah starter Ryan Fraser, who was forced to leave the game. Six of the next eight batters reached base safely against reliever Guillaume Leduc in the Power's big inning.
With two hits in game one, Gnats 1B Sam Honeck finished the opening series in WV 5-for-10 with a double and two RBI.
The Gnats scored their only run of the day in the second inning of game one, which at the time tied the score at 1-1. With one out, RF Javier Rodriguez doubled to center and then C Blake Forsythe doubled to left field to bring home Rodriguez. Forsythe, the Mets 3rd round pick in 2010 out of Tennessee, was 2-3 with a double in the game.
Game two was a pitchers' duel with Savannah starter Yohan Almonte trading zeroes with West Virginia starter Zach Dodson through four innings. However, the Power broke through for two runs in the bottom of the fifth against Almonte. The Power's Avila and RF Dan Grovatt singled to start the inning. Almonte then committed a balk to move Avila to third and Grovatt to second. Avila then came home on a wild pitch and Grovatt scored on an RBI single from Kevin Mort to make the score 2-0 Power. Almonte gave up just four hits and a walk in six innings while striking out four. However, the Gnats were held to two hits, singles from RF Cory Vaughn and SS Wilfredo Tovar in game two.
The Gnats will send RHP Erik Goeddel to the mound Monday at 7 PM in Hickory against RHP Carlos Melo for the Crawdads. Catch all of the action live on News/Talk 630 WBMQ and streaming on sandgnats.com.
**************************************************** OPENING NIGHT, 2011 The Savannah Sand Gnats Opening Night is Friday, April 15th, against the Greenville Drive, SAL affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, with FIREWORKS after the game. Gates will open two hours before first pitch. The first 5,000 fans on Opening Weekend will receive a Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by the US Coast Guard.
SINGLE GAME SEATS Single game seats for all of the Gants 70 home games in 2011, including Opening Night and July 4th are now available. Tickets may be purchased online at sandgnats.com, by calling (912) 351-9150, or by visiting the Gnats front office at Historic Grayson Stadium between 9 AM and 5 PM, Monday - Friday.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2011
- Tourists Map Back-To-Back Wins In Sunday's Doubleheader - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Claim Series with 10-7 Win Over GreenJackets - Greenville Drive
- BlueClaws Drop Both Games of Sunday's Doubleheader - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Late Rally Falls Short for Jackets in 10-7 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- West Virginia Sweeps Doubleheader - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Sweep Gnats Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Suns Rally Past Braves to Sweep Series - Rome Emperors
- Legends Take Advantage of Errors, Walks, Beat Charleston 12-4 - Lexington Legends
- Schutz, Pope Lead Shorebirds to 9-1 Win Over Grasshoppers - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Legends Use Big Innings, Charleston Errors to Down RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, April 10 at West Virginia Power - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes: Vs. Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- When in Rome, Suns Continue Winning Roll - Hagerstown Suns
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