Gnats Double Past GreenJackets
Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats made the most of their happy hour Friday night, scoring nine runs in the first three innings on their way to a 9-4 win over the Augusta GreenJackets at Historic Grayson Stadium. Helped by five Savannah doubles, three of which scored two runs, starter Gabriel Ynoa won his South Atlantic League leading 11th game of the year
The Gnats (14-15/57-14) scored the game's first runs in the bottom of the first. LF Maikis De La Cruz and DH Stefan Sabol each singled and scored on RF Eudy Pina's double ripped over Augusta CF Andrew Cain's head.
Savannah expanded their 2-0 lead with a four-run top of the second. After the bottom of the order loaded the bases, back-to-back two-run doubles from De La Cruz and Sabol put the Gnats up 6-0.
The GreenJackets (15-15/53-46) picked up two runs back against Ynoa in the third to pull within four runs at 6-2. Ynoa fought through five innings, yielding four runs on 10 hits.
The Gnats answered back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Twenty-year olds SS Philip Evans and CF Brandon Nimmo each singled home runs in the frame as the Gnats pushed their lead to 9-2. Evans finished 3-for-5.
Augusta scored single runs in the fourth and fifth against Ynoa. Neither Ynoa, nor Gnats' relievers Tyler Vanderheiden and Wanel Mesa worked a 1-2-3 inning all night. Mesa tiptoed around four walks in three innings to earn his first save of 2013.
The Gnats and GreenJackets play a doubleheader on Saturday to make up for Thursday night's postponed game. RHP Marcos Camarena (4-1, 1.75) will take on RHP Chris Stratton (7-3, 3.66) in game one while RHP Matt Koch (5-4, 5.09) tangles with LHP Matt Lujuan (4-0, 2.89) in game two. Both games are scheduled for seven innings. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm. Gates to Historic Grayson Stadium open at 4:30. The radio pregame show on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 4:45.
St. Joseph's Candler Community Night/Postgame Fireworks
Bring a canned item to the game and receive a FREE General Admission ticket. Food items support St. Mary's Community Center.
St. Joseph's Candler presents the post-game fireworks.