Gnats' 19 Strikeouts Crash Drive Offense

Savannah, GA - The Gnats finished two wins over the Greenville Drive on Wednesday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. First, in the completion of a suspended game from April 19, which resumed in the sixth inning tied at 3-3, the Gnats won 5-4. In the nightcap, Savannah pitching struck out 19 Greenville batters on their way to a 6-1 win.

The two Savannah wins dropped Greenville 6.5 games out of first place.

In game one, 2B LJ Mazzilli drove home SS Gavin Cecchini in the bottom of the eighth with the go-ahead run.

In game two, the Gnats scored four times in the first, aided by three Greenville Drive errors. After CF Patrick Biondi walked, SS Gavin Cecchini scorched a line drive to the right-centerfield gap that Drive centerfielder Manuel Margot could not handle, setting up runners at the corners. 3B Jeff McNeil followed with a clean single into centerfield that scored Biondi. Cecchini came around when Margot let the ball get by him. McNeil scored a few pitches later on a throwing error on Drive catcher Jordan Weems on a stolen base attempt for a 3-0 Savannah lead. Mazzilli doubled off the leftfield wall and scored on 1B Dominic Smith's RBI single into leftfield.

The Gnats added two more runs in the third inning on a two-run Cecchini single.

Savannah starter Dario Alvarez, in his second start of the year, earned his second win while striking out a career-tying 12 batters in his five innings. Reliever Dawrin Frias fanned five and Tyler Vanderheiden punched out two more to take the Gnats' total to 19 for the game.

The Gnats and Drive play a doubleheader at Historic Grayson Stadium beginning at 5:35 p.m. The Gnats are scheduled to send RHP Miller Diaz (3-0, 2.08) to the hill up against RHP Jamie Callahan (2-2, 5.06) in game one. Fans can enjoy half-priced beer thanks to Thirsty Thursday brought to you by Budweiser, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Connect Savannah, E93 and I-95 FM. Gates to Historic Grayson Stadium open at 5 pm. The radio broadcast begins on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com at 6 pm.