Gnats 3, GreenJackets 2

Jean Luc Blaquiere’s walk-off single capped a two-run, ninth-inning rally for the Savannah Sand Gnats as they defeated the Augusta GreenJackets, 3-2, in front of 1,613 at Historic Grayson Stadium Friday night. Raul Reyes led off the ninth with a single and came all the way around to score after Augusta’s pitcher Chris Wilson threw wildly and up the first base line on Matt Gaski’s sacrifice attempt. Blaquiere’s blow, a drive to deep center field, came with five GreenJackets in the infield and just two in the outfield after Vladimir Frias was inserted into the game prior to Blaquiere’s at bat. Wilson (1-2) takes the loss for Augusta with Manny Olivares (1-3) notching his first win of the year after 2.2 shutout innings of relief. The GreenJackets (29-31) re-took the lead in the seventh with Johnny Monell’s bases-loaded groundout to first base in the seventh inning. Olivares induced an inning-ending flyout to wipe out the threat. Savannah starter Chris Schwinden settled for a no decision despite a quality start with 6.1 innings pitched allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Augusta was on the board first with an RBI-groundout from Charlie Culberson in the second inning. Sand Gnats second baseman Matt Gaski extended his hitting streak to nine games with a game-tying RBI-single in the sixth. Sean Ratliff was the only Sand Gnat with multiple hits as the All-Star went 2-for-3. The walk-off win is the third of its kind in 2009 for Savannah and its first since a May 6 win over the Greenville Drive when Jefry Marte homered to guide the Gnats to victory.