Game two of the series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Asheville Tourists was played Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium.
Asheville rallied in the 8th inning to score 3 runs to edge Savannah 3-2. The Tourist outhit the Gnats 8-2.
Savannah scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning. Catcher Colton Plaia led off with a double. Back to back walks to Jonathan Johnson,2b and Patrick Bondi,lf loaded the bases. A sac fly scored Plaia. A single by Champ Stuart,cf scored the second run.
In the 8th inning, Asheville hit 2 doubles and 2 singles to score 3 runs. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Ramiel Tapia,cf doubled to score 2 runs. With the bases loaded, Gnat reliever, Akeel Morris entered the game and induced a ground out at third base, but a run scored which turned out to be the winning run.
It was a solid pitching performance by Savannah starter, Robert Whalen who pitched 7 scoreless innings and then the Tourists bats erupted for 3 runs. Asheville leads the league in team batting with a .292 average.
Savannah pitching: IP. Runs. Hits. K. BB
Robert Whalen(L,7-1). 7.1. 3. 8. 6. 1
Akeel Morris. 1.2. 0. 0. 3. 0
The announced attendance was 718.
The final game of the three game series starts at 7:05 pm Wednesday at Grayson Stadium.
The Asheville Tourists came to Savannah to play a 3 game series on Monday leading the Gnats by 4 games in the standings.
With the score tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the 10th inning, Savannah scored a run to win the game and cut Ashveille's lead to 3 games.
Asheville got off to a quick start scoring two runs in the first inning. Lead off hitter, Ramiel Tapia,cf singled followed by a home run over the left field fence by second baseman Zach Osborne, his 2nd of the season.
Savannah scored a run in the 2nd inning. Jorge Rivero singled, and on the next play, went to third on a fielding error by the first baseman and scored on a single by catcher, Colton Plaia.
In the 3rd inning Savannah tied the score at 2-2 on a solo home run by Yeixon Ruiz,ss over the left field fence, his 4th of the season.
Asheville took a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning when Dillon Thomas,lf tripled and scored on a sac fly.
Savannah tied the score in the 9th inning on an RBI single by Victor Cruzado,rf.
Leading off the 10th inning for the Sand Gnats, Ruiz triples to right-center field, and scores the winning run on a sac fly by Champ Stuart,cf.
Savannah pitchers: IP. Runs. Hits. K. BB
Miller Diaz. 5. 2. 4. 6. 1
John Mincone. 2. 1. 2. 0. 0
Paul Paez(W,1-2). 3. 0. 1. 2. 0
The announced attendance was 1,693.
Game two of the series starts at 7:05pm Tuesday at Grayson Stadium.
The Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs played a double header Wednesday at Grayson Stadium. Savannah won both games 2-0 and 5-3.
In the first game Charleston outhit Savannah 4-2 but lost 2-0.
Leading off the first inning for Savannah, Yeixon Ruiz,ss doubled and went to third on a ground out and scored on a ground out.
In the 6th inning, Savannah scored when Dominic Smith,1b doubled and went to third on a ground out double play. A wild pitch allowed Smith to score.
Starting pitcher for the Sand Gnats, Robert Whalen, improved his record to7-0 with the win, pitched 5.1 shutout innings, allowed 4 hits, walked 3 and struck out 3. Reliever Akeel Morris was outstanding, pitched 1.2 innings faceing 5 batters recorded a fly out and struck out 4. Morris earned his 13th save this year.
Game Two:
Charleston scored a run in the first inning. Shortstop Abiata Avelino reached base on a fielding error by the pitcher. Tyler Wade walked. Avelino scored on a single by Michael O'Neill,lf.
Savannah scored a run in the 4th inning when Matt Oberste,dh singled and scored on a double by Nelfi Zapata,3b.
Charleston took a 2-1 lead when they scored a run in the 5th inning.
Savannah scored in the 5th inning on Stafon Sabol's two run home run, a line drive over the left field fence, his 7th of the season.
The RiverDogs tied the score at 3-3 when they scored in the 6th inning. Brandon Thomas,cf doubled and scored on a double by Yeicok Calderon,rf.
In the 7th inning for Savannah, catcher Jeff Glenn led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner, Victor Cruzado. After several tries to sacrifice bunt, on a 2-2 count, Sabol laced a line drive home run over the left field fence giving the Sand Gnats a 5-3 win.
Savannah starter, Octavio Acosta, just transferred from Brooklyn, pitched 5 innings, allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 3 and struck out 7. Reliever Dawrin Frias pitched 2 innings, allowed 1 run on 3 hits, and struck out 4. With the win, Frias is 5-1.
The announced attendance was 1,309.
The Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston RiverDogs played a double header Tuesday at Grayson Stadium.
Charleston won the first game 6-2 and Savannah won the second game 1-0.
In the first game Charleston scored a run in the second inning. Miguel Andujar,3b led off with a double, went to third when Mike Ford,1b singled, and scored on a sac fly by Michael O'Neill,3b.
The RiverDogs scored a run in the 4th inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Savannah scored a run in the 4th inning. Champ Stuart,cf singled and went to second on a ground out. Matt Oberste,dh singled advancing Stuart to third. A ground out scored Stuart.
In the 6th inning, Savannah tied the score at 2-2 when Oberste hit a line drive over the left field fence for his 8th home run of the season.
Charleston rallied in the 7th inning scoring 4 runs on a walk, 2 doubles and a triple.
Sand Gnats had 3 hits for the game. Oberste was 2-for-3.
Savannah pitching: IP. Runs. Hits. K. BB
Alex Panteliodis. 6. 2. 8. 5. 2
Hunter Carnevale(L,3-1). 1. 4. 3. 2. 1
In game two, Savannah starter, Miller Diaz, was masterful pitching a complete 7 inning shutout, allowed 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 5. With the win, Diaz is 6-1 and he lowered his ERA to 2.14.
Savannah scored in the 6th inning. Oberste singled and went to second on a single by Nelfi Zapata3b. A ground our forced Oberste out at third. A single by catcher Colton Plaia scored Zapata.
The announced attendance was 1,022.
The teams play a double header tomorrow starting at 5:05pm at Grayson Stadium.
The final game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Hickory Crawdads was played Sunday afternoon in front of 902 fans at Grayson Stadium.
Fans saw excellent pitching from both teams and an exciting finish as Savannah scored a run in the 8th inning to edge Hickory 1-0.
Savannah starter, John Gant, was supurb, pitching 7 shutout innings, allowed only 1 hit, walked two and struck out 8. The only hit Gant allowed was an infield hit in the 7th inning by left fielder, Jario Beras.
In the 8th inning for Savannah, catcher Colton Plaia led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner, Victor Cruzado. Stefan Sabol,lf moved Cruzado to second with a sacrifice bunt. A ground out moved Cruzado to third. Champ Stuart,cf singled on a ground ball to the shortstop to score Cruzado.
Reliever Brett Mitchell entered the game for Savannah in the 8th inning and struck out the side. In the 9th, Mitchell gave up a single and recorded an out on a sac bunt and was replaced by Akeem Morris. After walking his first batter, Morris struck out the next two batters to end the game. Morris earned his 12th save of the season.
Getting two hits each for the Sand Gnats, Jon Leroux,dh was 2-for-3 with a triple and Plaia was 2-for-3.
With the win, Mitchell is (2-0).
Savannah and the Charleston RiverDogs play a four game series. The teams play a double header Monday starting at 5:35pm at Grayson Stadium.
The Savannah Sand Gnats and the Hickory Crawdads played a double header Saturday at Grayson Stadium.
Savannah won both games 5-2 and 8-0.
In game one, Hickory scored a run in the 2nd inning. Catcher Kellin Deglan walked followed by a single by Travis Demeritte,2b. Ronald Guzman1b singled to score Deglan. Hickory added their final run in the 5th inning.
Savannah scored 5 runs in the 4th inning. Victor Cruzado,rf singled and went to second on a single by Patrick Biondi,lf. While Biondi was stealing second base, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Cruzado to score. Jonathan Johnson,2b walked. A sac bunt by Yeixon Ruiz,ss drove in Biondi. Champ Stuart,cf walked. A ground out scored Johnson. Matt Oberste,dh drove in two runs with a single.
Savannah starting pitcher, Ricky Knapp, pitched 5.1 innings, allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, walked 3 and struck out 6. With the win he improved to (5-6). Reliever Akeel Morris earned his 11th save, pitched 1.2 innings, allowed no runs, and no hits, 1BB and struck out 1.
In the second game, Savannah starter, Robert Gsellman pitched a complete game, 7 inning shutout, allowed 6 hits, 1 BB, and 5 strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 2.45 and improved his record to 9-5
In the 2nd inning, Savannah scored 4 runs. Cruzado walked and went to third when Jon Leroux,dh reached on a fielding error by the right fielded. Jorge Rivero,2b walked to load the bases. A double by catcher Colton Plaia scored three runs. Plaia scored on a single by Ruiz. The Sand Gnats scored 3 runs in the 4th inning and added their final run in the 5th inning.
Leading hitter for Savannah Saturday, Ruiz was 3-for-7with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI's.
Game four of the series starts at 2:05 pm Sunday at Grayson Stadium.
Game one of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Hickory Crawdads was played in front of 3,049 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium.
Hickory out hit Savannah 12 to 4 and won 10-1.
It was an outstanding performance by Hickory second baseman, Travis Demeritte, who was 3-for-5, with 2 home runs, 5 RBI's, and scored 3 runs.
Hickory got off to a quick start scoring 2 runs in the first inning. Evan Van Hossier, lf singled and scored on a double by Zach Cone,cf. A single by Jairo Beras,rf scored Cone.
A solo home run in the 2nd inning by Demeritte over the left field fence gave Hickory a 3-0 lead. It was home run number 22 for Demeritte.
Savannah scored their only run in the 3rd inning. Shortstop Yeixon Ruiz reached first base on a bunt, stole second, and scored on a single by Champ Stuart,cf.
With the bases loaded in the 5th inning for Hickory, catcher Kellin Deglan walked allowing a run to score.
The Crawdads scored 3 runs in the 8th inning and 3 runs in the nineth inning, highlighted by a 3 run home run over the left field fence by Demeritte, his 23rd of the year which leads the SAL.
Leading hitter for Savannah, Ruiz was 2-for-4, with a run scored.
Savannah pitching: IP. Runs. Hits. K. BB
Logan Taylor(L,0-3). 6. 4. 5. 5. 3
John Mincone. 1.1. 3. 4. 0. 0
Hunter Carnevale. 1.2. 3. 3. 1. 2
Game two of the series starts at 7:05pm Friday at Grayson Stadium.
