Gnats Series Preview: July 29 - August 1 vs. Augusta GreenJackets

from press release:

Probable Starters


Day Time Savannah Sand Gnats (13-19/55-47) Augusta GreenJackets (16-15/57-44)


Thu 7:05 RHP John Church (5-0, 1.46) RHP Jeremy Toole (3-4, 4.25)


Fri 7:05 RHP Collin McHugh (3-6, 3.28) RHP Brian Irving (6-3, 4.52)


Sat 6:05 RHP Armando Rodriguez (5-6, 3.39) RHP Chris Heston (3-11, 4.80)


Sun 6:05 LHP Jimmy Fuller (8-3, 1.93) LHP Craig Clark (2-2, 4.50)



Players to Watch


Savannah


LHP Jimmy Fuller - #3 in the SAL in ERA (1.93), #2 among active pitchers ... allowed fifth-fewest baserunners/9 IP in SAL (10.29)


OF Cesar Puello hit safely in 7 straight games & 15 of 16 games...batting .337/.427/.432 (AVG/OBP/SLG)in July...t-3rd in SAL w/ 37 SB


3B Robbie Shields - The Mets’ 3rd round pick in 2009, joined Savannah on Saturday, and hit his first home run as a Gnat on Tuesday


Augusta


OF Nick Liles - .313 batting average #3 in the SAL ... only GreenJackets player batting over .300


2B Ryan Cavan - tied for #3 in the SAL in doubles with 28, tied for Augusta team lead with 10 HR



Series Preview


The Savannah Sand Gnats take their first crack at the Augusta GreenJackets, their primary rival in the first half. The Gnats beat Augusta by a score of 9-5 on Sunday, June 20 to clinch the first half title, and their first playoff berth in 14 years, by one game over Augusta. The Gnats were 6-10 against Augusta in the first half, 1-3 at home and 5-7 on the road. The two teams are scheduled for eight games in the second half, all at Historic Grayson Stadium. Augusta last visited Savannah April 12-15, in the first week of the SAL season. The Gnats will play eight of their next 22 games against Augusta to finish up the season series between the teams.



The Gnats head into the weekend series after an eight-game road trip to West Virginia and Lexington on which the team went 3-5. Savannah, which was 24-11 at home in the first half, is just 5-9 in their three home series in the second half. The GreenJackets visit Savannah after a 4-3 homestand against Greensboro and Hickory with the finale against Hickory rained out on Tuesday night.

Unlike the Gnats, who have clinched their playoff berth, the GreenJackets must catch the Greenville Drive for first place in the SAL Southern Division to earn a playoff berth.