Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes

Published on July 24, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah Sand Gnats (18-11/57-41, 1st, Southern) vs. Lexington Legends (11-18/46-53, 7th, Southern)

Game #99 -

Home Game #41 - Sunday - 2:05

RHP Michael Hebert (0-0, 9.00) vs. LHP Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.39)

Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA

Radio: News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com

Today: The first-half champion Gnats look for their fourth win in a row in game two of a four-game series with the Lexington Legends, SAL affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Gnats took two of three from the West Virginia Power to begin their seven-game home stand.

Last Night: Joe Bonfe drove home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to cap a 7-6 Gnats' comeback win. The Gnats rallied from a 6-1 deficit on the back of Albert Cordero who was 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBI, a new Savannah season-high.

Now Pitching: RHP Michael Hebert is scheduled to make his first Savannah start today. The 20-year old right-hander has one appearance to his credit with the Gnats in 2011. He gave up three runs, two earned, on four walks with one strikeout in two innings to West Virginia last Wednesday. He had spent the first three and a half months on the Gnats disabled list. In four rehab appearances in the GCL this year before joining Savannah, Hebert struck out 15, walked two and had a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17 IP). In the Appalachian League in 2010, Hebert was 3-7 with a 4.47 ERA with 53 strikeouts, 29 walks and 64 hits allowed in 56.1 IP. He made two regular season appearances out of the Savannah bullpen yielding just one run on three hits in 6.1 innings. The Mets drafted Hebert in the seventh round in 2008 out of Saugus HS (CA) where he was primarily a closer.

Cordero's Cuts: Albert Cordero set a new Gnats' season-high with his six RBI last night, surpassing five RBI games from Robbie Shields and Aderlin Rodriguez earlier in the season. After hitting .219/.248/.297 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with eight extra-base hits in 45 games in the first half, Cordero is up to .310/.348/.405 with five extra-base hits in 22 games in the second half.

Hot Harris: Alonzo Harris rides a personal season-best eight-game hitting streak over which time he is 10-for-29 (.345) with a home run, a walk, seven strikeouts, two runs and five RBI.

Close Calls: All four games on the Gnats' homestand have been decided by one or two runs, including three one-run games. The Gnats are 17-4 in one-run games at home and 20-12 overall. Savannah is 37-22 in games decided by two runs or less, and 29-9 at home in such contests.

About Last Night: The Gnats won for the first time at home when allowing more than five runs... The Gnats only other win this year in which their opponents have scored six runs or more came in a 13-8 victory in Rome on June 27. ... The 13 men left on base by Lexington ties a season-high in a nine-inning game for a Gnats' opponent.

Fine Penmanship: After 3.1 scoreless innings last night, the Gnats bullpen has a 3.14 ERA, even better than the starters' 3.23 ERA. However, when unearned runs are taken into account, the starters move in front, 3.65 R/9 compared to 3.80 R/9 for the relievers. The Savannah ‘pen has a higher strikeout rate (8.7 K/9) to (7.3 K/9) and a higher walk rate (4.1 BB/9) to (2.6 BB) than the starters.

Strong Arms: The Gnats still lead the SAL in ERA at 3.19, 41 hundredths better than second-best Lakewood. The Gnats also lead the League in WHIP at 1.23, and have allowed the fewest hits (756) - 19 fewer than second-best Hickory. The Asheville Tourists have allowed 1016 hits, most in the League, 262 more than the Gnats. The Gnats are fifth in the SAL in strikeouts (761).

Vs. Lexington: The Gnats are 5-5 against the Lexington Legends in 2011, 3-3 at home and 2-2 on the road. The two teams split a series in Lexington last week. The Gnats finish the 2011 regular season with five games in Lexington over Labor Day weekend September 1-5.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 24, 2011


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