Gnats Elimated from Playoffs with 5-4 Loss Friday

SAVANNAH, GA - The Greenville Drive withstood a late Savannah comeback to hang on and beat the Gnats 5-4 Friday night. The Drive swept the best-of-three Divisional Championship Series 2-0 from the Gnats. Friday, in front of a rowdy crowd of 2,515 at Historic Grayson Stadium, the Gnats had the tying run at third in the bottom of the eighth inning and the tying run at second in the ninth, but could not overtake the Drive. With the win, Greenville will go to the SAL Championship Series for the second year in a row.

With the score tied 2-2 after four innings, the Drive took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth against Savannah starter Taylor Whitenton. C Christian Vazquez doubled, was sacrificed to third and came home on a sacrifice fly to center field by LF Shannon Wilkerson. In the sixth inning, Whitenton gave up a leadoff double and then a two-run home run to left field to Drive 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez which made the score 5-2.

The Gnats fought back. In the eighth, 3B Aderlin Rodriguez singled and LF Cody Holliday walked to put two runners on base. C Albert Cordero singled into right center field bringing home Rodriguez to pull Savannah within two runs at 5-3. Holliday then scored on a wild pitch, making the score 5-4, while Cordero, with the tying run, advanced to third with two outs. Gnats 2B Luis Nieves grounded out to end the threat, however.

Down a run, CF Matt den Dekker led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single. Asked to sacrifice, SS Robbie Shields moved den Dekker to second with the tying run, with a bunt along the first base line. However, 1B Travis Ozga and Aderlin Rodriguez both flew out to shallow left to end the game and the Savannah season.

The Drive scored two runs in the top of the first inning against Whitenton. However, Savannah evened the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rodriguez singled and RF Cesar Puello walked to put two runners on for Holliday, who ripped a doubled into left-center field. Holliday finished the two-game playoff series 5-of-8, with three doubles, a walk, two runs scored and three RBI.

The Gnats bullpen of LHP Josh Edgin and RHP Gabriel Zavala contributed four scoreless innings to give the Gnats' bats a chance to mount the comeback.

In 2010, the Gnats made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years and won a regular season Half Championship for the first time in 16 years. Savannah's 75-64 record in the regular season was their best since going 82-55 in 1994.

For more information, please call (912) 351-9150 or visit sandgnats.com.

Opening Day 2011
The Gnats will open the 2011 season on road in West Virginia on Thursday April 7th. Opening Day at Historic Grayson Stadium, will be Friday, April 15th, six months and five days away.