Braves Sweep Doubleheader from Gnats Saturday

Savannah, GA - The Rome Braves used a pair of late homeruns to sweep a doubleheader from the Savannah Sand Gnats by scores of 2-0 and 4-1 Saturday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The first-place Braves have now won 10 of 12 games while the Gnats have lost eight of their last nine.

The Gnats will play their final home game of the 2012 season on Sunday at 2:05 against Rome.

The Rome Braves (39-21/57-73) did all of game one's scoring with one swing in the fifth inning. With one out, 2B Ross Heffley ripped a homer, a two-run shot, his fourth in his 54th game in Rome, to put the Braves ahead 2-0.

Rome starter AJ Holland shut out the Gnats through six innings to earn the win, his fourth of the year. Savannah starter Yohan Almonte allowed two runs, both on Heffley's homer, to take the loss to fall to 0-2.

The Gnats (25-36/66-62) scored the first run of game two in the third when SS Yucarybert De La Cruz lifted a fly-ball to put Savannah in front 1-0 in the third.

The Braves rallied in the top of the sixth against Savannah starter Alex Panteliodis. With two outs and the bases clear, three singles tied the game at 1-1. Then, LF Robbie Hefflinger lofted a fly-ball homerun over the leftfield wall for a three-run homer to put Rome in front 4-1.

Rome starter Greg Ross threw a complete game shutout in game two, fanning seven Gnats to earn his seventh win of the year. Panteliodis took the loss to fall to 4-8. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

The Gnats will look for a split in the four-game series in their final home game of 2012 when they send RHP Marcos Camarena (7-5, 3.21) to the hill against RHP Navery Moore (7-3, 3.90). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05. Gates at Historic Grayson Stadium open at 1 pm. The radio broadcast, presented by Subway, begins on News/Talk 630 and online at 1:45 pm.

Sunday is Kids Day
Kids eat free at Historic Grayson Stadium every Sunday. All kids, 12 years old and younger, who attend Sunday's game, will receive a free hot dog, chips and a small soda.
Kids run the bases after the game thanks to Papa Murphy's Pizza.


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ABOUT THE SAVANNAH SAND GNATS
The Savannah Sand Gnats, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets, is a professional minor league baseball team and a member of the South Atlantic League. Savannah plays its home games at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, GA, just minutes from downtown Savannah. Historic Grayson Stadium is situated within Savannah's Daffin Park, creating a unique atmosphere and a "Park within a Park" setting. The Sand Gnats are a part of the Savannah baseball tradition dating back to 1904.