Sand Gnats win fifth straight
Published on April 20, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Sean Ratliff homered and Jordany Valdespin was 3-for-4 as the Sand Gnats extended their winning streak to five games with a, 3-1, victory over the Charleston RiverDogs Monday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. Elvin Ramirez (2-0) worked six scoreless innings for the win while Erik Turgeon notched his first save.
It was certainly a pitcher's duel through the early frames as Ramirez and RiverDogs' starter Andrew Brackman (0-2) battled it out. Brackman's lone blemish was a leadoff home run by Ratliff in the second inning that gave Savannah the early 1-0 edge.
With the bases loaded and two down in the fifth, Valdespin hit the ball to the right side of the infield when the ball came up and struck Charleston's Brian Baisley in the shoulder. He was unable to get up to field the ball and Savannah's Eric Campbell scored from third to extend the lead to two. Baisley would remain in the game.
Brackman worked six innings while allowing just five hits to go along with eight strikeouts.
After a 62-minute rain delay, play resumed in the seventh inning. Charleston would score one in the eighth off reliever Jimmy Johnson but the Gnats would get it right back in the bottom half of the frame.
Ratliff and Rafael Fernandez also collected multiple hits for Savannah. Both Ratliff and Campbell have reached base safely in all 11 games played thus far. With Valdespin going 3-for-4, he extended his hitting streak to nine-games.
The five-game win streak by Savannah is its longest winning streak since the Sand Gnats won five in a row from May 26-30, 2006 as an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
These same two clubs will duel tomorrow in the final game of this short series. RHP D.J. Mitchell (1-0, 0.75) throws for Charleston while RHP Josh Stinson (0-0, 1.50) takes the ball for Savannah in his first start of 2009. It's a 10:35 a.m. Education Day start from Grayson Stadium. For tickets and more information, visit www.sandgnats.com or call 912.351.9150.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2009
- Sand Gnats win fifth straight - Savannah Sand Gnats
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- Crawdads swept - Hickory Crawdads
- Legends, Power split two - Lexington Legends
- Power Snap Scoreless Streak, Split Double Header - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Sand Gnats Nip RiverDogs, 3-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Win Pair, Split Series - Asheville Tourists
- Drive Blank Grasshoppers for the Third Time with 2-0 Win - Greenville Drive
- Suns VS Shorebirds Rained Out - Hagerstown Suns
- Monday's BlueClaws Game Postponed - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Infante named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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