Savannah Drops Magic Number To Four with Eight to Play In First Half
Published on June 11, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - Darrell Ceciliani ripped a two-run double into the right field corner to put the Gnats ahead in a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending the Savannah Sand Gnats to a 4-2 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets Saturday night in front of 2,609 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (35-26), who swept the three-game series from GreenJackets (26-36), welcome the Rome Braves to Savannah for four games Sunday to Wednesday this week.
Rome held on to beat the Greenville Drive 6-5 in Rome Saturday, so Savannah now has a 4.5 game lead over the Drive with eight games to play in the first half. The Gnats' magic number to clinch their second-straight first half title is four.
Down 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Gnats rallied for three runs. With one out, Albert Cordero was hit by a pitch, and then 2B Wilfredo Tovar singled up the middle chasing Augusta starter Shawn Sanford from the game. With two aboard, CF Darrell Ceciliani greeted reliever Drew Bowlin by lining a two-run double into the right field corner giving Savannah a 3-2 lead. Ceciliani moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on SS Robbie Shields' sacrifice fly to right.
Savannah scored the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth. Ceciliani blooped a single along the left field line, and Shields brought him home by drilling a double to the base of the left field wall.
Augusta evened the game with a single run in the seventh inning and took a 2-1 lead with a run off reliever Hamilton Bennett in the top of the eighth. Bennett earned his second win of the year when the Gnats scored three times in the eighth. Josh Edgin worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 14th save of the year. Edgin has not allowed an earned run since April 26, a span of 16 appearances.
Savannah starter Taylor Whitenton worked around four walks to keep the GreenJackets off the scoreboard for the first five innings.
The Gnats will send RHP Yohan Almonte (2-2, 3.21) to the mound against Rome RHP Caleb Brewer (4-2, 3.04) Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm and gates open at 5 pm. The pre-game show on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com begins at 5:50 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2011
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- Bullpen Shuts Door on Late Rally by Greenville - Rome Emperors
- Savannah Drops Magic Number To Four with Eight to Play In First Half - Savannah Sand Gnats
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