Gnats Buzz Through Braves

Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats made sure there would be no late inning drama in their first win of 2013 by blowing out the Rome Braves 12-3 Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats and Braves now head to Rome for two games Saturday and Sunday, before the Gnats return to Savannah to host the Augusta GreenJackets Monday night.

The Gnats (1-1) broke the game open with a five-run third inning. 1B Jayce Boyd and C Kevin Plawecki began the inning with line drive singles into centerfield. A throwing error brought home the first two runs in the frame. SS Philip Evans and CF Brandon Nimmo each singled home runs to cap the scoring in the inning to put the Gnats in front 6-0.

The two 20-year olds both had two hits. Evans was 2-4, with a triple, a walk and two RBI. Nimmo finished 2-6 with a triple and two RBI.

Savannah added two runs in the fourth inning for an 8-0 advantage. Plawecki led off the frame with a solo homer ripped towards the corner in left field, his first of 2013. Plawecki finished 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs scored and two RBI.

Meanwhile, on the hill, 19-year old RHP Gabriel Ynoa held the Braves (1-1) off the scoreboard for five innings. Ynoa allowed one hit and one walk, both in the second inning, while striking out six. He retired the final 10 batters in a row.

The Braves did all of their scoring in the top of the sixth on one swing - a three-run double by Carlos Franco off reliever Tim Peterson.

Savannah answered right back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. 2B Chad Zurcher drove home a run with a double to right. Nimmo then followed with a triple up the right-center field gap and came home to score on Plawecki's single into centerfield.

Braves' starter Mauricio Cabrera balked home a run in the second inning using the now banned fake-to-third, step-to-first sequence.

The Braves' pitching staff walked 12 batters and struck out six Friday night. By contrast, the Gnats' staff fanned 12 and walked two.

The Gnats return home to take on the Augusta GreenJackets Monday night on the first Dollar Monday of 2013 presented by Kroger, the Savannah Morning News and E93.