For the third time in this five-game series, Addison Maruszak scored the game winning run to give Charleston a walk-off win in the ninth frame as the RiverDogs won, 7-6, on the final day of play in the South Atlantic League. Tommy Baldridge was the hero this time, driving in Maruszak with a single to right off reliever Samuel Martinez in the bottom of the ninth.
It was a Maruszak home run, his second of the year, that actually tied the game in the seventh. Maruszak was the first batter that John Church (1-4) faced in the game in relief of Marcos Tabata. Church worked himself out of a jam later in the seventh to keep the game tied and then used a one-two-three inning in the eighth to keep the ‘Dogs at bay.
It was a Maruszak home run, his second of the year, that actually tied the game in the seventh. Maruszak was the first batter that John Church (1-4) faced in the game in relief of Marcos Tabata. Church worked himself out of a jam later in the seventh to keep the game tied and then used a one-two-three inning in the eighth to keep the ‘Dogs at bay.
After Melky Mesa was retired to start the ninth inning, Maruszak singled into right field and moved to third on a Garrison Lassiter single through the right side. Martinez was summoned out of the bullpen and struck out Neall French before allowing the game-winning knock to Baldridge.
The Gnats led, 4-0, at one point in the game after Evan LeBlanc drove in a pair of runs in the second and Jeff Flagg did the same in the fourth. Savannah added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to go up, 6-2, before Charleston began their comeback.
Starting pitcher Eric Beaulac worked the first inning and allowed a hit while striking out a batter but did not come out to start the second. Phillips Orta was called on and worked three innings, allowing two runs on four hits. All told, the Gnats used five pitchers in the game.
Nick Giarraputo went 2-for-5 in the final game of the year and hit safely in 17 of 20 games with the Sand Gnats. Even more impressive, 12 of those 17 games were multi-hit games. He also drove in a run to finish his short stint with 13 RBI.
Giarraputo, Juan Lagares and Kai Gronauer each had two hits for the Gnats. Savannah finishes the season with a mark of 65-72, which is the most wins in a season for a Sand Gnats team since the year 2000 when they won 72 games.
The Gnats will be back in action in April 2010 when the West Virginia Power visit Savannah to open the 2010 South Atlantic League season.
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