Sand Gants Celebrate Opening Night Victory
Published on April 16, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats used three home runs to entertain the crowd of 3,358 at Historic Grayson Stadium for the team's home opening on their way to an 8-3 win over the Charleston RiverDogs.
The Gnats started hot, Outfielder John Mora scored after being hit-by-pitch and was plated by Jon Leroux. In the very next at-bat, 1B Stefan Sabol launched the first dinger in the bottom of the first inning, which gave the Gnats a 3-0 advantage. It was his second home run in his fifth game.
The RiverDogs scored three times against starter RHP Corey Oswalt (1-0, 4.22) in the top of the second. Oswalt finished five innings to earn his first win of the year, striking out five. Outside of the second inning in which the 'Dogs batted around, he allowed three runners in his other four frames.
The Gnats took the lead for good in the bottom of the second when LF Vicente Lupo, who had walked, came home on SS Luis Guillorme's drag bunt.
Third baseman Pedro Perez added a solo shot in the fourth to put the Gnats up 5-3. Perez's homer lead to the early exit of RiverDogs' starter LHP Justin Kamplain (1-1, 3.60), who picked up his first loss of the short season.
With the Gnats up 5-3, lefty Carlos Valdez received the first call from the 'pen. Valdez pitched two shutout innings with three strikeouts on his way to a hold on Thursday.
Lupo would single and score in the sixth inning, putting the Gnats up by three runs. Right fielder Wuilmer Becerra drilled a screaming line drive of a home run over the left field wall in the seventh to complete the game's scoring at 8-3.
The Sand Gnats sent relievers Cameron Griffin and David Roseboom to the hill in the late stages of the game. Both Griffin and Roseboom tossed one shutout inning.
The Savannah Sand Gnats and Charleston Riverdogs will face-off tomorrow at 7:05 PM for game two of the four-game Subway Series in the South presented by Amtrak. The Gnats will send RHP Josh Prevost (0-1, 6.00), while LHP Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 0.00) will start for Charleston. It will be the very first St. Joseph's/Candler Facebook Flashback Friday. Fans can visit St. Joseph's/Candler's Facebook page for a special offer for Friday Night's game.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 16, 2015
- Home Opener Ends with Walk off Win in the 11th - Asheville Tourists
- Heartbreak in Greensboro, 5-4 Walkoff Defeat - Delmarva Shorebirds
- GreenJackets Win 2015 Season Home Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
- Late Rally Sends West Virginia Past Legends 4-2 - Lexington Legends
- Tourists Walk off with 5-4 Win over Drive - Greenville Drive
- Sand Gants Celebrate Opening Night Victory - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Rallies for 4-2 Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Long Balls Drain RiverDogs 8-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Denard Span to Start Again Tomorrow Night in Hagerstown - Hagerstown Suns
- Suns Rally Past BlueClaws in Home Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- Intimidators Rained Out; Doubleheader Friday at 5:05 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Storm Back to Top Claws 7-3 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads Rained out in Kannapolis - Hickory Crawdads
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Budweiser Clydesdales & Brewmaster Tour to Visit RiverDogs, Riley Park - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hoppers "Itching" to Begin First Home Stand - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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