Rome Braves 7 Savannah Sand Gnats 6

Game two of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 2,601 fans Friday evening at Grayson Stadium. Rome rallied in the 9th inning to win 7-6.
In the first inning, leading off for Rome, Ross Wilson,2b singled and scored when Johan Camargo,ss doubled.
Savannah scored in the 3rd inning when Jeff McNeil,3b singled to drive in 2 runs to give Savannah a 2-1 lead.
In the 5th inning, Rome scored twice on a single, 2 walks, and 2 batters hit by pitches. Savannah scored 3 runs in the 5th to lead 5-3.
A solo home run in the 7th inning by Rome first baseman, Jake Schrader, over the left field fence and Savannah led 5-4.                  


The Braves scored a run in the 8th inning to tie the score at 5-5. 

In the 9th inning, back to back walks and a triple by Rome's left fielder, Blake Brown, drove in two runs for Rome and they led 7-5.
Brown had a great night going 4-for-5 batting in the 9th position.
Savannah scored their final run in the 9th inning when L.J. Mazzilli,2b singled and scored on a double by Stefan Sabol,rf.
The Sand Gnats had 13 hits for the game.  Leading hitter for Savannah, McNeil was 2-5, with 3RBI's and a run scored.                                                                                                                                                    
Savannah pitching:                IP.       Runs Hits.   K.     BB
Miller Diaz.                            4.2.      3.      4.       9.      2
Dario Alvarez.                         1.1.     0.      2.       1.      1
Dawrin Frias.                           1.0.     1.      1.       1.      1
Tyler Vanderheiden(L,1-1).    2.0.      3.      3.       2.      2
The third game of the series starts at 6:05pm Saturday at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 3 Rome Braves 2

Game one of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 2,760 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. Fans saw an exciting game with Savannah winning in the 12th inning, 3-2.
Savannah got off to a quick start scoring 2 runs in the first inning. Shortstop, Gavin Cecchini doubled and scored on a double by Jeff McNeil,3b. McNeil stole third and scored on a throwing error by Rome's catcher, Victor Caratini.
In the 6th inning, Rome scored two runs. Catcher Victor Caratini tripled to drive in a run and Caratini scored on a single by Jake Schrader,1b. It was a good exhibition of hitting by Caratini as he had three singles and a triple.
Savannah scored the winning run in the 12th inning. Patrick Biondi,cf  led off the inning with a single, followed by a sac bunt by Cecchini to move Biondi to second. The next batter, McNeil, who was 4-for-5, was intentially walked. L.J. Mazzilli,2b lined a single to left field to score the winning run.
The first four batters for the Sand Gnats, Biondi,Cecchini, McNeil, and Mazzilli accounted for 12 hits, both RBI's, and three runs scored.
Savannah out hit Rome 14-10. Rome left 11 runners on base, Savannah left 12 runners on base.
Savannah pitchers:            IP.      Runs.      Hits.    K.   BB
Ricky Knapp.                    6.1.       2.            6.       6.     1
Akeel Morris.                    1.2.       0.            1.       1.     0
Robert Coles.                     2.         0.             1.       3.    1
John Mincone.                   1.2.      0.             2.       0.    1
Tim Peterson(W,3-1).        0.1.      0.             0.       1.    0.          Game two of the series starts at 7:05 pm Friday evening at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 2 Charleston RiverDogs 1

The final game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs was played in front of 1,735  fans Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium.
Savannah rallied in the 8th inning, trailing 1-0,scored two runs and held on to win the game 2-1 to even the series at 2-2.
Charleston scored their lone run in the first inning. Tyler Wade,ss led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a single by Aaron Judge,rf. A single by third baseman Miguel Andujar scored Wade.
With two outs in the 8th inning for Savannah, third baseman Jeff McNeil singled and scored when L.J. Mazzilli,ss doubled to left field and advanced to third on a missed catch error by second baseman,Jose Rosario. Dominic Smith,1b hit a ground ball to the pitcher for a single allowing Mazzilli to score the second run which turned out to be the deciding run.
Sand Gnat players with two hits apiece. McNeil, Smith, Victor Cruzado,rf, and Champ Stuart,cf. Savannah had 9 hits for the game.
On his Birthday, Savannah starter Ricky Knapp, pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run. Robert Coles pitched the 9th inning to earn his 9th save of the season.
Savannah pitching line:   IP.    Runs.    Hits.   K.  BB.  ERA
Ricky Knapp.                   6.        1.          7.      5.    0.      3.12
Dario Alvarez(W,3-0).     2.        0.          1.      3.    0.      0.33
Robert Coles(S,9).            1.        0.          0.      1.    0.      1.31

Savannah Sand Gnats 6 Charleston RiverDogs 0

Game three of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs was played in front of 2,286 fans Monday at Grayson Stadium.
Savannah utilized home run power and stellar pitching to beat Charleston 6-0.
Savannah starter, Kevin McGowan, pitched 7 shutout innings, allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Reliever, Paul Perez, pitched the final two innings, did not allow a hit or run and struck out 3. With the win, McGowan is 2-1 and he lowered his ERA to 1.85.
Sand Gnats got off to a fast start scoring two runs in the first inning. Patrick Biondi,rf started off the inning with a single. A double by Jeff McNeil,3b scored Biondi. McNeil stole third base(11th of the year) and scored when Dominic Smith,1b singled.
In the 2nd inning, Savannah scored 2 more runs when catcher, Colton Plaia walked and scored on second basemans Jorge Rivero's, first home run of the season over the left field fence.
Savannah scored 2 more runs in the 3rd inning. L.J. Mazzilli,ss led off the inning with a home run over the manual scoreboard in left center field, his third this year. Victor Cruzado,dh singled and would score on a single by Champ Stuart,cf.(his first RBI as a Sand Gnat).
The final game of the series starts at 7:05pm Tuesday at Grayson Stadium.

Charleston RiverDogs 10 Savannah Sand Gnats 3

Game two of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs was played in front of 1,701  fans Sunday afternoon at Grayson Stadium. Two home runs by third-baseman,Miguel Andujar helped to power  Charleston to a 10-3 victory over Savannah.
Charleston scoring highlites. In the third inning, Charleston scored their first run when Michael O'Neil,cf singled, stole second, and scored when Mike Ford,1b hit a double. With two men on base via a single and a walk in the 5th inning, Miguel Andujar,3b hit a home run over the left field fence, his 2nd this year. A single run was scored in the 6th inning. In the 7th inning, Ford walked followed by the second home run of the game by Andujar over the left field fence. In the 9th inning, 3 singles and a double gave the RiverDogs three runs off reliver, Robert Coles.
Savannah scored their three runs in the 6th inning. Champ Stuart,cf walked and moved to second on a single by Jeff McNeil,3b. A walk to L.J. Mazzilli,ss loaded the bases. Dominic Smith,1b drove in two runs with a single. Victor Cruzado,rf drove in the third run with a single.
Savannah pitching line:  IP.  Runs.   Hits. K.  BB
Chris Flexen(L,1-5).       5.1.    5.        7.    4.    3
Darwin Frias.                  1.0.    2.         2.   0.    2
Tim Peterson.                  1.2.    0.         1.   3.    0
Robert Coles.                   1.0.    3.         4   1.     0
Game three of the four game series starts at 7:05pm Monday at Grayson Stadium.

Charleston RiverDogs 3 Savannah Sand Gnats 1

The Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs played the first game of the four game series Saturday in front of 4,499 fans at Grayson Stadium. It was the second largest crowd of 2014 at Grayson Stadium.
Charleston won 3-1, as they got off to a fast start scoring two runs in the first inning. Tyler Wade,ss led off with a ground ball hit to shortstop, Gavin Cecchini, who was charged with a fielding error allowing Wade to reach first.  Wade advanced to second on a ground out. A single by Aaron Judge,rf scored Wade. Judge scored on a single by Miguel Andujar,3b. In the 5th inning, Charleston scored their final run.
Savannah avoided the shutout by scoring a run in the 9th inning. Champ Stuart,cf  singles and goes to second when Gavin Cecchini,ss singles. A ground out moves Stuart to third base and he scores when Stefan Sabol grounds out pitcher to first-Sabol now has 31RBI's to lead the team and is among the league leaders.
Savannah had 12 hits for the game. L.J. Mazzilli was 3-for-5. Players with two hits each,Stuart, Jeff McNeil,3b and Victor Cruzado,rf.
Savannah pitching line:          IP.      Runs.  Hits.  K.   BB
Robert Gsellman(Lost,2-3).    3.          2.        3.    3.     0
John Mincone.                        3.          1.         4.    5.     0
Tyler Vanderheiden.               2.          0.         2     0      2
Tim Peterson.                          1.          0.         0.    2.    0
Game two of the series starts at 2:05pm Sunday at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats split DH with Greenville Drive

The Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greenville Drive played a double header Friday at Grayson Stadium. The teams split with Savannah winning the first game 11-3 and Greenville winning the second game 4-1. Savannah is in first place in the Southern Division and remains 6.5 games ahead of Greenville in the standings.
In the opener, Savannah starter, Miller Diaz, won his 4th game pitching 5 shutout innings, allowed 1hit,  walked 4, and struck out 8. Diaz lowered his ERA to 1.74.  Savannah had 11 hits and scored at least 1 run in their first 5 innings.
Savannah third baseman, Jeff McNeil, had three singles and scored three runs. Stefan Sabol,lf drove in 3 runs and now has 30 RBI's which is among the league leaders. Dominic Smith,dh went 2-for-3 and drove in 3 runs.
Greenville scored 2 runs in the 6th and 1 run in the 7th off Sand Gnat reliver, Paul Paez, who pitched 2 innings, allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, walked 2, and struck out 1.
In the second game, Savannah took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when DH Gavin Cecchini tripled and scored on a double by L. J. Mazzilli.
Greenville scored 2 runs in the 4th inning and 2runs in the 5th inning all off Savannah starter, John Gant,who went 5 innings, allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, walked 2 and struck out 7. Taking the loss, Gant is now 4-2. It was another solid relief appearance for Gnats Akeel Morris, pitched the final 2 innings, no hits, no runs, 1walk and striking out 2.
The announced attendance was 3,097.
Saturday the Sand Gnats play the Charleston RiverDogs at 6:05 pm at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats Win Double Header

A double header was played  between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Greenville Drive Wednesday at Grayson Stadium.
The first game was the resumption of the game suspended in the bottom of the 6th inning on April 19th due to rain with the score 3-3. Savannah won both games 5-4 and 6-1.
The first game resumed in the bottom of the 6th, no outs, and catcher, Jeff Glenn, on second base with a double when the game was suspended. Patric Biondi,cf singled to move Glenn to third base. Jeff McNeil,3b drove in Glenn with a single to give Savannah a 4-3 lead.
In the 7th inning, Greenville tied the score when Carlos Asuaje singled to drive in Tzu-Wei Lin who walked and went to second on a single by Jantzen Witte,1b .
Savannah scored the winning run in the 8th inning on a RBI single by L. J. Mazzilli.
Leading hitter for the Sand Gnats, McNeil went 3-for-5 and drove in 3 runs.
Savannah pitching line: IP.   Runs.   Hits.   K.   BB
John Michael Gant.        5.       3.        8.      2.     2
Tim Peterson(W2-0).     3.       1.        3.      4.     1
John Mincone(S,1).        1.       0.        0.      1.     0

The second game was highlited by the excellant pitching performance by Sand Gnat starter, Dario Alvarez, who pitched 5 shutout innings, striking out 12, allowed 3 hits and walked 1.With the win Alvarez is now 2-0 and he lowered his ERA to 0.36.
Savannah got off to a fast start in the 1st inning sending 9 players to the plate and scoring 4 runs on 2walks, 3 hits, and 3 Greenville Drive errors. Jeff McNeil,3b drove in two runs and Dominic Smith,1b singled to drive in a run.
Savannah scored 2 more runs in the 3rd inning and Greenville scored their lone run in the 7th inning.
Sand Gnats were led in hitting by Cecchini who was 2-for-5 with 2RBI's and a run scored.
Savannah relievers were also strong. Dawrin Frias pitched 1.2 innings, allowed 1run, on 4 hits, struck out 5 and walked 1. Tyler Vanderheiden earned his first save, pitched 2.1 shutout innings, and struck out 2.
The announced attendance was 2,382.
Both teams play a double header starting at 5:30pm Thursday at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 5 Rome Braves 1

Game four of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 2,382 fans Monday evening  at Grayson Stadium.
Rome scored their only run in the 2nd inning which was unearned, the only run allowed by Sand Gnat starter Kevin McGowan who pitched 5.2 innings allowed 6 hits, 4BB and struck out 5.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, Savannah tied the score when Stefan Sabol,lf hit a home run over the left field wall for his 5th home run and 25th RBI for the year.
Savannah scored 4 runs in the  6th inning. Sabol, Dominic Smith,1b and Jon Leroux,dh walked. Sabol scored on a wild pitch. A single by catcher, Jeff Glenn scored a run. Gavin Cecchini drove in two runs when he hit a chopper to third and the third baseman, Carlos Franco, was charged with a fielding error.
Dominic Smith,1b was 2-for-3 continuining his hot hitting(6 for 10) his last three games. Cecchini doubled in the 3rd inning to extend his hitting streak to 8 games.
Reliever Akeel Morris had another solid performance pitching 1.2 innings, 2 BB, 2 K and won his third game.
Savannah pitching line:    IP.   Runs.   Hits.    K. BB.  ERA
Kevin MaGowan.             5.2.     1.        6.       5.    4.    2.73
Akeel Morris(W,3-0).       1.2.     0.        0.      2.     2     0.00
Robert Coles.                     1.2.    0.        2.      0.     0.     0.00

Rome Braves 7 Savannah Sand Gnats 3

The third game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 1,346 fans Sunday afternoon at Grayson Stadium. Rome out hit Savannah 15-11 and Rome won their first game of the series,7-3.
In the first inning, Rome loaded the bases and a double by Joey Meneses,lf scored 3 runs. Rome added 2 runs in the 3rd inning when Victory Caratini, catcher, singled followed by a home run over the right field fence by desinated hitter, A.J. Kirby-Jones, his third home run of the season. Rome scored single runs in the 8th and 9th innings.
Savannah scored their first run in the 2nd inning. Dominic Smith,1b walked and eventially reached third base and scored when Gavin Cecchini,ss. hit into a sacrifice fly double play- Smith scored before the third out was made. In the 3rd inning, Savannah scored their second run on a walk to L.J. Mazzilli's, who advanved to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on a double by Jared King,dh. The final run was scored in the 9th inning-Patric Biondi,cf doubled, advanced to third on a single by Jeff McNeil,3b. Mazzilli's sac fly scored Biondi.
Savannah pitching line:  IP.    Runs.    Hits.   K.  BB
Chris Flexen(L,1-3).       5.        5.          8.      5.    4
John Mincone.                2.        0.          2.      2    1
Tim Peterson.                 2.        2.          5.      2.    0
The final game of the four game series starts at 7:05pm Monday at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 12 Rome Braves 2

The second  game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 3,092  fans Saturday at Grayson Stadium.
Savannah banged out 13hits (5 were doubles) and crused to a 12-2 win over Rome.
In the first inning, Savannah sent 8 players to the plate and scored 3 runs. Hot hitting, Gavin Cecchini,ss led off with a double. L.J.Mazzilli,2b reached first base on a force out, and Jared King,lf walked to load the bases. A double by Stefan Sabol,dh scored 2 runs. A wild pitch allowed King to score.
Savannah scored one run in the 2nd inning, 3 runs in the 3rd inning, 4 runs in the 4th innings and their final run in the 6th inning. 
Rome scored a run in the 1st inning and a run in the 6th inning
Players with three hits for Savannah. Cecchini was 3-for-6 with a double, 2 singles, 2runs scored and 2RBI's. Catcher Jeff Glenn was 3-for-4 with 3 singles, 1RBI, and 2 runs scored.Glenn is now batting .310.
Savannah starter, John Michael Gant, pitched 5 innings, allowed 1 run on 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5. With the win Gant is now (3-1).
Savannah pitching line:  IP.    Runs.  Hits.  K.  BB
John Michael Gant.         5.        1.        5.    5.    2
Tyler Vanderheiden.       2.        1.        2.    2.    1
Darlo  Alvarez.               2.        0.        1.    1.    0
Savannah has won 5 games in a row and play game three of the series Sunday afternoon at 2:05pm at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 2 Rome Braves 1

Game one of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 1,708  fans Friday evening at Grayson Stadium.
Both teams had 6 hits and Savannah edged Rome 2-1.
Savannah scored in the first inning. Gavin Cecchini,ss led off with a triple and scored when Rome pitcher, Chuck Buchanan balked.
In the 6th inning, Savannah scored a run after two walks and a single by Cecchini loaded the bases- Jeff McNeil,3b  was hit by a pitch to score the run.
Rome scored their lone run in the 7th inning. Joey Meneses,1b led off with a single. Victor Reyes,rf singled. Alejandro Piloto hit a ground ball which Sand Gnat pitcher, Miller Diaz, fielded and threw to third base and the ball sailed past the third baseman for an error and allowed Memeses to score.
The hitting star for Savannah, Cecchini, went 3-for-4 with 2 singles, a triple and a run scored.
Another solid outing by the Savannah pitchers. Miller Diaz, allowed 1 run and gave up 6 hits, struck out 6 in 6.1 innings of work. With the win he is now 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.21.
Reliever Robert Coles pitched the 9th inning, striking out 2 to earn his 4th save.
Savannah pitching line:  IP.    Runs.    Hits.  K.   BB
Miller Diaz.                    6.1.      1.          6.    6.     0
Darwin Frias.                  1.2.      0.          0.    3.     0
Robert Coles.                   1.        0.          0.    2.     0
Game two of the series starts at 6:05pm Saturday at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 6 Delmarva Shorebirds 1

The third game of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Delmarva Shorebirds was played in front of 1,010 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. It was another outstanding performance by the Savannah pitching staff, allowing only one run in 27 innings against Delmarva for the series.
Savannah got off to a quick start in the first inning scoring 3 runs and  won 6-1 to swept the series.
Leading off the first inning for Savannah, Gavin Cecchini,ss walked. Victor Cruzado,rf reached first base on a fielding error by the third baseman,followed by a home run over the left field fence by L.J. Mazzilli,2b to give Savannah a 3-0 lead. It was Mazzilli's second home run of the season.
In the third inning, Savannah scored three runs on 2 hits, 2 walks and a fielding error by the shortstop.
The lone run run for Delmarva came in the 5th inning when Mike Yastrzemski,rf hit a home run over the right field fence. Yastrzemski also had a double and was 2-for-3.
Savannah starter Robert Whalen pitched 6 strong innings to earn his 4th win of the year without a loss. He struck out 7 and lowered his ERA to 1.80
Reliever, Tim Peterson, pitched the 9th inning and struck out the side.
Savannah pitching line: IP     Runs.   Hits.   K.  BB
Robert Whalen.              6.         1.       5.      7.    2
John Mincone.                1.         0.       0.      0.    1
Tyler Vanderheiden.       1.         0.       1.      1.    0
Tim Peterson.                  1.         0.       0.      3.    0
The Sand Gnats start a four game series with the Rome Braves starting tomorrow, Friday, at 7:05pm at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah Sand Gnats 1 Delmarva Shorebirds 0

Game two of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Delmarva  Shorebirds was played in front of 1,375 fans Wednesday evening at Grayson Stadium.
Fans saw Savannah pitchers dominate like last nights game, shuting out Delmarva and winning 1-0.
Savannah scored in the 5th inning. Victor Cruzado,rf led off with a single. A bunt single by Dominic Smith1b advanced Cruzado to second. An infield hit by catcher, Colton Plaia, loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed Cruzado to score.
Savannah threatened to score in the 7th inning when Plaia singled, moved to second on a ground out, and was thrown out at the plate on a close play after Gavin Cecchini,ss singled to center.
Winning his first game of the season for Savannah, Ricky Knapp(1-2), was sharpe with great control, pitching 7 1/3 shutout innings, allowed 4 hits, 0BB, and struck out 6. Akeel Morris(2-0), earned his first save of the season.
Savannah pitching:   IP.   Runs.   Hits.   K.   BB
Ricky Knapp.           7 1/3.    0.       4.      6.    0
Darwin Frias.            2/3.      0.       1.       1.   1
Akeel Morris.            1.         0.       2.       1.    0
The final game of the series starts at 7:05pm Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium.