Sand Gnats sweep doubleheader
Published on August 23, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Savannah Sand Gnats swept both games of Saturday's doubleheader with the Rome Braves and drew closer to their 100,000th fan total with an announced crowd of 2,122. The Sand Gnats sit just 234 fans shy of the 100,000 mark.
The opening game was a pitcher's duel between starters Erik Cordier and John Holdzkom. Both starters traded zeros as Cordier went 6.1 innings while Holdzkom had his best outing as a member of the Sand Gnats. The right-hander went seven innings, while striking out a season-high nine and allowing just two hits. In extra innings, Casey Craig blasted his fifth home run to give the Gnats a 1-0 win in walk-off fashion.
Craig's home run snapped Savannah's seven-game losing streak along with their winless streak when starting a homestand. The Sand Gnats were previously 0-9 in the first game of a homestand. It is also the first walk-off home run by a Sand Gnat since John Poppert won the game against the Lexington Legends on July 25, 2006.
In the second game, Savannah's offense was alive and well, scoring eight runs on its way to an 8-1 victory. The Gnats put up three runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fifth. Maikel Cleto (5-11) tossed six innings and struck out eight for the win.
Being just 234 fans away from 100,000, the Sand Gnats will pass the 100,000-fan mark tomorrow when they play Rome for a doubleheader to end the series. The 234th fan through the gates will receive a Sand Gnats Prize Pack for being the 100,000th fan. For comparison's sake, the Sand Gnats drew just 58,379 fans in 2004.
Tomorrow's doubleheader begins at noon with RHP Scott Moviel (9-8, 4.58) toeing the rubber for the Sand Gnats (24-33). Opposing him will be Braves LHP Richard Sullivan (1-2, 3.07), who was drafted out of the Savannah College of Art and Design earlier this year by Atlanta. Eric Beaulac (1-1, 2.12) takes the hill in the second game for Savannah.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2008
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