Sand Gnats Sweep Drive with 3-2 Win

Published on August 17, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release

Savannah, GA - Offense was at a premium on Sunday afternoon in Savannah, and the Savannah Sand Gnats (37-20, 81-42) did just enough to win, as they completed a sweep of the four-game series against the Greenville Drive (18-39, 52-74) with a 3-2 victory.

The Drive jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Danny Bethea smacked his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to left off John Gant.

From there, the Sand Gnats pitchers settled in and kept the Drive off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Gant struck out nine in five innings of work, and four relievers hurled an inning apiece. John Mincone (2-1) threw the sixth to earn the victory, and Akeel Morris finished things off to collect his 15th save of the year.

Savannah tied the game against Teddy Stankiewicz (9-8) in the third after Champ Stuart hit an infield single to score a run, swiped second, and came in on Dominic Smith's RBI double to center.

Stuart started the Sand Gnats' go-ahead rally in the sixth, as he singled to begin the inning, moved to second on a groundout and was plated by Matt Oberste's double to left.

Stankiewicz took the loss despite giving the Drive a quality start, as he allowed three earned runs in six innings with six strikeouts and no walks.

Bethea had two hits and two RBI for Greenville, and Stuart had two hits for Savannah.

After an off day on Monday, the Drive return to Fluor Field on Tuesday to begin a three-game series with the Charleston RiverDogs. First pitch is set for 7:05. LH Daniel McGrath (5-5, 3.76) is scheduled to start the opener for the Drive.

South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2014

• Grasshoppers Hitters too Hot in Series Finale - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Fast Start Fuels Crawdads in 7-2 Victory - Hickory Crawdads
• Suns Blanked by BlueClaws Twice in Four-Game Series Loss - Hagerstown Suns
• Thomas Homers as RiverDogs Split with Braves - Charleston RiverDogs
• Hit Parade for BlueClaws in 9-0 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Hickory Splits with 7-2 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Pitching, Homers Send Legends Past West Virginia 8-1 - Lexington Legends
• Power Splits with Lexington - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Series Captured with 11-3 Win - Asheville Tourists
• Gnats Complete Sweep Under the Sun on Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Sand Gnats Sweep Drive with 3-2 Win - Greenville Drive
• Shorebirds Game Notes at Hickory - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Sweat Tea and Whiskey Brined Smoked Wings Close "Smokin' Chef" Series on Sunday - Charleston RiverDogs
• Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) -- August 17, 2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Former Charlotte 49er Barnette Promoted to Triple-A - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds

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