Sanford Gem Not Enough; GreenJackets Blanked 2-0
Published on August 3, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Savannah, GA - Shawn Sanford did nearly everything he could on the mound to lead his Augusta GreenJackets to victory on Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough. Despite seven strong innings from Sanford, the GreenJackets were held to just four hits in a 2-0 loss to the Savannah Sand Gnats - their 11th shutout loss of the season and their second in the last four games.
Sanford ran into trouble in just the second and fifth innings - the innings in which he allowed runs. In the second, the Sand Gnats got back-to-back singles by Blake Forsythe and Albert Cordero to lead off the inning. Forsythe scored when Joe Bonfe beat out a double play ball at first to give the Sand Gnats a 1-0 lead. Sanford retired the next seven in a row - striking out five - before running into trouble again in the fifth.
The Sand Gnats picked up three hits to open the fifth, including their only extra base hit of the night. Aderlin Rodriguez doubled and took third on Bonfe's single. Jet Butler followed with an RBI single up the middle to put the Sand Gnats up 2-0 in the fifth.
Sanford (8-7) went on to fire seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits without walking anyone and with nine strikeouts - a new season-best. He retired seven of the final eight hitters he faced. The loss breaks up Sanford's personal five-game winning streak.
Augusta hitters had their share of chances, despite just four hits, but couldn't come through in the clutch. The GreenJackets had the leadoff man aboard in every inning from the second through the sixth but couldn't push a run across. Savannah starter Ryan Fraser (7-7) limited the GreenJackets to three hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, striking out five.
Michael Hebert was even more dominant out of the Gnats' bullpen. He allowed a leadoff single in the sixth to Ryan Lollis, but retired 12 of the next 13 he faced to seal the win for Fraser and earn his first save of the year with a four-strikeout effort.
Perhaps the best scoring opportunity came against Fraser in the fourth for the GreenJackets, when Lollis walked and Josh Mazzola was hit by a pitch to open the inning. With one out, both runners were balked into scoring position, but Fraser struck out the side to get out of the jam.
The GreenJackets send Taylor Rogers (7-9, 3.20) to the mound on Thursday night in an attempt to salvage the series split with the Sand Gnats, who'll counter with All-Star Game starting pitcher Taylor Whitenton (4-2, 2.61). First pitch from Savannah comes at 7:05 p.m. with radio pregame coverage beginning at 6:50, airing on WRDW-AM 1630 and online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
Single-game tickets for any GreenJackets home game are currently available by calling the GreenJackets front office at 706-922-WINS while further information can be found online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com .
South Atlantic League Stories from August 3, 2011
- Legends Top Kannapolis 5-1 Behind Quevedo - Lexington Legends
- Suns Feast on Crawdads, Steam Hickory 12-0 - Hagerstown Suns
- Suns Top Crawdads On Wednesday Night - Hickory Crawdads
- Lakewood Shuts out Delmarva 4-0 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fraser and Hebert Combine on Four-Hit Shutout in 2-0 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Three-Run Ninth Lifts Lakewood to 3-0 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sanchez Homers Twice, Dogs Fall to Asheville, 7-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Navarro, Avilo Fuel 1-0 Power Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Sanford Gem Not Enough; GreenJackets Blanked 2-0 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Gnats Game Notes: Wednesday, August 3 Vs. Augusta - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Drive Hang on for 7-5 Win Versus Braves - Greenville Drive
- Late Rally Can't Lift Braves in Afternoon Defeat - Rome Emperors
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- GreenJackets, Knology Team up for Back-To-School - Augusta GreenJackets
- Intimidators to Raise Money for Local School Districts - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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