Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes
Published on June 11, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Tonight: The first place Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, try to complete a sweep in their three-game series against the against the Augusta GreenJackets, SAL affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Rome comes to Savannah for four games Sunday-Wednesday. Savannah is eight games over .500 for the first time in 2011.
Last Night: The Gnats put together their second five-run inning in as many nights, scoring five times in the sixth to blow out the âJackets 8-1.
Now Pitching: RHP Taylor Whitenton, who was selected to start the All-Star Game for the Southern Division, is scheduled to make his tenth start of the year tonight. Whitenton is looking to bounce back from his roughest start of the year, when he allowed a Gnats' season-high nine runs in 3.2 innings in a 10-1 loss in Asheville last Monday. Whitenton is tied for 11th in the SAL in strikeouts (60) and has pitched fewer innings (45.2) than anyone else in the top 16. In 2010 with the Gnats, Whitenton walked 5.7 batters/9 IP (68 BB/108.1 IP), but this year, he's down to 4.1 BB/9 (21 BB/45.2 IP). Last year with Savannah, Whitenton was 8-9 with a 4.57 ERA in 18 starts and eight relief appearances with the Gnats. He fanned 113 batters and walked 68, the second-most in the SAL, in 108.1 innings. Whitenton started and took the loss in game two of the 2010 SAL Southern Division Championship series in which the Greenville Drive swept the Gnats 2-0. In 2009, Whitenton threw five scoreless innings over four games in the Gulf Coast League, striking out seven, walking five and yielding just one hit. The Mets drafted Whitenton in the 39th round of the 2009 draft out of Darton (GA) College. The Gnats are 6-2 when Whitenton starts and have supported him with 4.0 runs per game.
Standings Update: The Gnats lead the Greenville Drive by 3.5 games for first place with 9 games to play in the first half for both teams. Savannah's magic number, the combination of Savannah wins and Greenville losses, to clinch the first half title, is six. Asheville and Lexington both won last night to stay 4.5 and 5.5 games behind Savannah respectively.
Tovar Turning it On: Wilfredo Tovar has hit safely in his last nine games going 13-32 (.406) with a two doubles, two walks and one strikeout. He's raised his batting average 34 points, from .185 at the start of his streak to .219 today.
Rodriguez Rolling: In his last six games, Aderlin Rodriguez is 9-for-24 (.360) with three doubles.
About Last Night: The 11 runs the Gnats sent to the plate in the 6th inning were their most in any inning this year...All nine Gnats in the starting lineup reached base safely and seven of the nine had hits.
Livin' on the Edge: Closer Josh Edgin is tied for second in the SAL in saves (13), and third among SAL relievers in both lowest batting average against (.140) and strikeout rate (13 K/9 IP). Edgin has not allowed a run in his last 13 appearances nor an earned run since April 26, a span of 15 appearances.
Strong Arms: The Gnats still have the SAL's best ERA (3.21), and are now second in WHIP (1.24) and strikeouts (522) and have allowed the second-fewest hits (482) in the League.
Vs. Augusta: The Gnats are 5-1 against the GreenJackets in 2011, 3-1 in Augusta and 2-0 at home. The two teams are scheduled for 21 games, 10 in Augusta, and 11 in Savannah. The Gnats were 9-14 against Augusta last year, 4-7 at home and 5-7 on the road.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2011
- Lakewood Outlasts West Virginia 4-3 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- 'Dads two-hit Legends, win 8-1 - Hickory Crawdads
- Five Intimidators errors help Hoppers bounce back - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Hickory takes series finale over Legends 8-1 - Lexington Legends
- 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
- Turley Turns Back Tourists as Charleston Avoids Sweep with 2-0 Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- GreenJackets Can't Swat Gnats Late in 4-2 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds and Suns Suspended Due to Weather - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Pacheco Activated from DL, Kent Released - Rome Emperors
- RiverDogs to Host Salute to Negro Leagues - Charleston RiverDogs
- West Virginia Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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