Gnats Game Notes: Monday, August 9 @ Charleston - 7:05 pm

from press release:

Savannah Sand Gnats  @ Charleston RiverDogs

Game #114 - Road Game #61 - Monday – 7:05

RHP John Church (5-1, 2.04) vs. RHP Jose Ramirez (6-4, 3.12)

Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Charleston, SC

Radio: News/Talk 630 and http://www.sandgnats.com/



Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats look for their third win in a row in game four of their five game series in Charleston, S.C. against the RiverDogs, the SAL affiliate of the New York Yankees. Savannah has not won three in a row since winning four straight July 7-10. The Gnats, who are now 2-5 on their nine-game road trip, return home on Thursday, August 12 to host the Kannapolis Intimidators.



Last Night: The Gnats blew out Charleston 10-2. All nine Gnats starters had a hit and eight of the nine had multi-hit games to help Savannah tie a season-high with 18 hits. Wilfredo Tovar, who was 3-5 with a double, put together his second three-hit game for Savannah.



Now Pitching: John Church is scheduled to make his eighth start of the year for the Sand Gnats after 22 relief appearances. Church, who gave up one run in his first three starts, has given up three runs or more in each of his last four. In his last four starts, Church has allowed 13 runs, 10 earned in 17.2 innings for a 5.09 ERA, walked 13 and struck out 13 while allowing opponents to hit .279 (19 H/68 AB). Church’s 2.04 ERA would be good enough for fourth in the SAL, but Church is 19 innings short of qualifying for the league leaders. Church made 21 relief appearances with Savannah last year and one with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League. With Savannah last year, Church was 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks in 29 innings. The Mets drafted Church in the 23rd round of the 2009 amateur draft out of the University of West Florida.



Closing up Shop: Michael Powers was promoted to advanced-A St. Lucie yesterday. At the time of his promotion, his 15 saves were tied for fourth in the SAL. Overall, he was 3-4 with a 2.28 ERA in 41 appearances for Savannah with 52 strikeouts against 23 walks in 51.1 innings.



Meet the New Guy: Matt den Dekker, in his first game with Savannah, was 2-4 with a pair of walks out of the leadoff spot. He scored two and drove home a run. As a senior, den Dekker helped lead the Gators to their first College World Series since 2005. His sliding, over-the-shoulder catch in the Gators’ game against UCLA was named as ESPN’s Sports Center’s Top Play on June 19th. The Mets drafted den Dekker in the fifth round out of the University of Florida in June 2010.