RiverDogs Blinded by the Light

RiverDogs Blinded by the Light

Savannah squeaks by with a 1-0 win

SAVANNAH, GA – A pop fly lost in the lights led to a double and the only run of the game as the Savannah Sand Gnats eked out a 1-0 win on Tuesday night over the Charleston RiverDogs at Historic Grayson Stadium in South Atlantic League play.

With their seventh straight loss, the RiverDogs fall to 22-23 in the second half and 61-52 overall. Savannah improves to 23-18 in the second half and 65-45 overall with the win. Charleston has yet to score a run in this series.

Pitching dominated the game and it was scoreless all the way until the bottom of the sixth inning. After facing just one over the minimum in five scoreless frames, righty Brett Gerritse got the leadoff man in the sixth Albert Cordero to hit a lazy fly ball to center. Charleston centerfielder Jake Cave lost the ball in the lights and it landed for a double, just Savannah’s third hit of the night.

A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third base, and then with the infield drawn in, Jorge Rivero was able to push the ball past a diving attempt by third baseman Ty Afenir and score Cordero to make it 1-0 Sand Gnats. That was the only run they would need.

The RiverDogs had a golden opportunity to score first in the second inning, but they could not cash it in. After a single and an error put runners at first and third bases with only one out, Reymond Nunez grounded into an inning ending double play and stranded the man at third base. Charleston never got closer despite out hitting the Sand Gnats 6-4.

Gabriel Ynoa threw 6.2 shutout innings for Savannah and allowed only three hits plus collected five strikeouts en route to his league leading 13^th win of the year. He’s now 13-4 this season. Tim Peterson and Hunter Carnavale combined to toss 1.1 scoreless innings to bridge the gap to the ninth when Beck Wheeler shut down the Dogs and collected his 14^th save of the year.

Gerritse got tagged with the very tough luck loss to fall to 8-6. He gave up just one run on four hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. Derek Varnadore threw two perfect innings of relief for the RiverDogs.

Offensively, Ericson Leonora had another multi-hit game for Charleston going 2-4. Wes Wilson, Ty Afenir, Jake Cave, and Cito Culver each chipped in with singles as well.

The finale of this three game series in Savannah is Wednesday night at 7:05. It will be a battle of the Camarena’s with LHP Daniel Camarena (3-6, 4.56 ERA) on the mound for Charleston and RHP Marcos Camarena (5-1, 1.85 ERA) tossing the first pitch for Savannah. Fans can listen to the game live locally on ESPN Radio AM910 or online at www.riverdogs.com.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/198Tlea

--RIVERDOGS--

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE.