Savannah Wins Fourth In a Row

Published on May 14, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release


Savannah, GA - Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares combined for seven of the Savannah Sand Gnats' (23-12) 14 hits to lead the Savannah Sand Gnats to an 8-3 win over the Rome Braves Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. Savannah has won four in a row and five of their last six games to improve to a season-best 11 games over .500. It is the third time this year that the Gnats have won four straight games. With the win, the Gnats clinched a series victory over Rome (12-22). The Gnats are now 6-1-2 in their nine series in 2010.

The Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, without Flores or Lagares contributing, but the two had a hand in each subsequent inning in which the team scored. In the second, LF Nick Santomauro beat Rome starter Brett DeVall to leg out an infield hit and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to right by C Kai Gronauer.

The Gnats scored three times in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Alonzo Harris began the inning with a bunt basehit, stole second and scored on DH Pedro Zapata's single into right field. Lagares followed Zapata by blooping a single into shallow right bringing up Flores with runners at the corners. The 18-year old SS singled up the middle to bring home Zapata and chase Lagares around to third. 3B Jefry Marte's RBI groundout brought home the final run of the inning. In the fifth inning, Lagares and Flores needed no help. With one out, Lagares roped a triple into the right-centerfield gap. It was his league-leading eighth triple of the year. Flores brought him home with a groundball double down the left field line o make the score 5-1.

Lagares was 3-4 with a triple, a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. He is hitting .305/.321/.539 (AVG/OBP/SLG). Flores (.359/.405/.592) was 4-5 with 3 RBI.

Gnats' lefthander Jimmy Fuller worked around singles in the first and third innings before giving up his first run in the fifth on an RBI double by Rome LF LV Ware. The Braves picked up another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from SS Mycal Jones to make the score 5-2. However, Fuller ended the threat by picking Jones off of first. Fuller earned the win to improve to 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA. He gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings with four strikeouts and zero walks.

Savannah added two runs in the seventh inning and one in the eighth. In the seventh, Zapata reached on an infield single, stole second, went to third on the play on a throwing error on Braves catcher Osman Marval and scored on a Lagares single up the middle. Lagares in turn scored on a Marte sacrifice fly after Flores had singled into center to send him to third. In the eighth, Flores singled with bases loaded to bring home the Gnats' eighth run.

The Gnats look for a season-high fifth-straight win Saturday night at 6:05 when they send RHP Taylor Whitenton (0-1, 3.47) to the hill to take on RHP Cory Rasmus (1-1, 1.80) for Rome.

Fireworks Saturday

KIX 96 presents post-game Fireworks Saturday. Live Wire Music Hall presents the Saturday Night Live pre-game music beginning when gates open at 4:30 pm. Please call the Gnats at (912) 351-9150 for more information or visit sandgnats.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from May 14, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central