Sand Gnats Take Down Drive, 4-2
Published on June 4, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Savannah, GA - Behind a three-run fourth inning, the Savannah Sand Gnats (26-27) came away with a 4-2 victory over the Greenville Drive (31-22) in Thursday night's series opener.
The big fourth inning saw the Sand Gnats collect three consecutive hits off Dedgar Jimenez (3-3) to begin the frame. The third hit was an RBI single from Jon Leroux that scored Wuilmer Becerra, who doubled to lead things off. Jimenez appeared to escape further trouble by recording a pair of outs, but two-out singles from Vicente Lupo and Patrick Biondi extended the lead to 3-0.
The Drive bounced back in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs. Derek Miller singled home David Sopilka with one out, and a Savannah error on a Nick Longhi groundball plated another run.
Savannah reliever Ricky Knapp took control from there, shutting down the Drive the rest of the way and striking out five over five innings to improve to 1-0. Martires Arias struck out seven Greenville batters over four innings of work.
Luis Guillorme came up with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth to score Patrick Biondi, who doubled, for an insurance run.
Biondi, Leroux and Eudor Garcia all picked up three hits for Savannah on the night. Miller led the way for Greenville with two hits and an RBI.
Game two of the four-game series begins at 7:05 PM on Friday night in Savannah. LH Jalen Beeks (5-1, 3.31) takes the mound as the Drive look to break their three-game skid, and RH Scarlyn Reyes (4-4, 3.32) starts for the Sand Gnats.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 4, 2015
- 'Birds use five run fourth inning to beat I's - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Hods Rome at Bay 6-5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Slaybaugh Tallies Another Four Hits in R'Dogs 9-6 Win over Tourists - Charleston RiverDogs
- Olesczuk Shines in Debut, 8-2 Victory - Delmarva Shorebirds
- West Virginia Shades Rome 6-5 - Rome Emperors
- Five-Run Fifth Propels Hickory to 8-3 Win over BlueClaws - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hot Gnats Reach .500 with 4-2 Win Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Sand Gnats Take Down Drive, 4-2 - Greenville Drive
- WV Power Game Notes: June 4, 2015 at Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
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