Savannah Wins Second Straight from First-Place Drive
Published on July 16, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats, who were no-hit through four innings, waited until the fifth inning to fire up their offense on the way to a 9-3 win over the Greenville Drive on Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (10-12/52-40) took the lead with a five-run fifth and scored all nine of their runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
With the Gnats down 3-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, Savannah 1B Travis Ozga led off by fighting off numerous two-strike pitches before fisting a single into shallow right for Savannah's first hit. The Gnats' first run came one batter later when C Juan Torres doubled into the left field corner to score Ozga. After DH Nick Santomauro singled Torres to third, 2B Alonzo Harris brought Savannah within a run with a sacrifice fly to right. Santomauro scored the tying run on Pedro Zapata's infield ground ball. Savannah scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error, RF Cesar Puello completed the inning's scoring by singling into left to bring home Zapata to make the score 5-3.
The Gnats offense added four runs in the sixth inning. Alonzo Harris, SS Wilfredo Tovar and Zapata all delivered RBI knocks. Tovar and Santomauro both finished 2-4.
The Drive (14-8/50-42) scored a run in the third, and then chased Savannah starter John Church with a two-run fourth inning. The earned runs Church allowed in the fourth inning were his first earned runs since May 30, a span of 25.2 innings.
The Gnats' bullpen followed Church with 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball. RHP Marcos Tabata stranded a runner in the fourth, and held Greenville in check in the fifth and sixth inning while Savannah rallied. Tabata struck out four in his 2.1 innings of work to earn his second Sand Gnats' win. Brandon Sage worked a 1-2-3 seventh, and Gabriel Zavala struck out three over the final two innings.
Saturday, the Gnats will send RHP Armando Rodriguez (5-5, 3.03) to the mound to take on RHP Kendal Volz (5-3, 4.11) for the Drive. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 and gates open at 4:30 pm. The pre-game show on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com begins at 5:50.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 16, 2010
- Savannah Wins Second Straight from First-Place Drive - Savannah Sand Gnats
- âBirds Plate Three Runs in Eighth Inning - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators Lose Lead, Game in Extras 9-7 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tullis wins Third in a Row, 'Dads hold on, 3-1 - Hickory Crawdads
- Batts comes up big twice in 12-inning 9-7 Claws win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hickory tops Legends 3-1 - Lexington Legends
- Suns Fall Short To Braves 6-5 - Hagerstown Suns
- GreenJackets Tighten Up on RiverDogs, 9-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Two Innings Doom Drive versus Sand Gnats, 9-3 - Greenville Drive
- Middle-Inning Surge Carries Jackets to Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends Closer Kirk Nears Saves Record - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Game Notes: Friday, July 16 Vs. Greenville - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 8th Annual Ballpark Festival of Beers Slated for September 25 - Charleston RiverDogs
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.
