Gnats Series Preview: June 1-4 vs. Asheville

From Press Release:

Probable Starters

Day Time Savannah Sand Gnats (30-22) Asheville Tourists (21-29)

Tue 7:05 RHP Colin McHugh (2-1, 2.95) LHP Wes Musick (4-3, 4.98)

Wed 7:05 RHP Brandon Moore (2-3, 1.92) RHP Nick Schnaitmann (3-5, 7.14)

Thu 7:05 LHP Jimmy Fuller (5-2, 1.90) LHP Tyler Matzek (0-0, 3.00)

Fri 7:05 TBA RHP Chris Balcom-Miller (0-1, 2.55)

Players to Watch

Savannah

RHP Brandon Moore - leads the SAL with 67 strikeouts in 51.2 IP, #2 in SAL in WHIP (0.82), #9 in ERA (1.92)

LHP Jimmy Fuller - 8th in the SAL in ERA (1.90), 2nd in strikeouts (62), #5 in IP (61.2). Has a K/BB ratio of 3.64 (62 K/17 BB)

3B Jefry Marte - rides 6 game hitting streak over which time he is 9-for-25 (.360) with 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K, 6 R

Asheville

CF Eliezer Mesa - #2 in SAL in AVG (.346), #6 in OPS (.917), #4 in doubles (19)

LHP Tyler Matzek - Baseball America #1 prospect in Rockies organization... signed for $3.9 million... scheduled to make third pro start

Series Preview

The Sand Gnats return home from splitting a four-game series with the Rome Braves to take on the Asheville Tourists, the SAL affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The Gnats, in second place in the SAL Southern Division, are two games behind the division-leading Augusta GreenJackets, with 18 games remaining in the season’s first half, while the Tourists are in last place in the SAL Southern Division, 10 games behind Augusta. The Gnats and Tourists are scheduled for 18 games this year, with 14 of those 18 games coming in the season’s second half.

The Tourists head to Savannah after dropping three of four games in Augusta in a series that was marred by rain. Overall, however, the Tourists have won seven of their last 11 games.
This series will be a matchup of strengths featuring Gnats’ pitching against the Tourists’ offense. Savannah leads the league in ERA (2.54), strikeouts (483) and WHIP (1.14), while allowing the second-fewest home runs (19). By contrast, Asheville leads the SAL in all three major offensive rate categories, AVG (.273), OBP (.339), and SLG (.400). The series could see a lot of running, the Gnats are third in the League with 72 stolen bases, and the Tourists are fourth with 66. However, Savannah has been caught just 16 times for an 82% success rate, while the Tourists have been caught 36 times for a 65% sucess rate.

Upcoming Promotions

Tuesday: Two-for-Tuesday-KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets: Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to Historic Grayson Stadium; AND enjoy 2-for-1 Natty Lights at the game presented by Budweiser and I-95.

- Hinesville Community Night presented by the AT&T Yellow Pages.

Wednesday: Baseball Bingo Win Great Prizes from the Gnats and their sponsors. Presented by Magic 103.9 and News/Talk 630.

Thursday: Thirsty Thursday - Get your weekend started off right with two-for-one beers and sodas all night long presented by Budweiser, Connect Savannah and Rock 106.1.

Friday: FRITOS Family Friday - Participate in great ballpark activities. You be the PA Voice for an inning and much more...