Greensboro 5, Savannah 4

GREENSBORO, NC – Greensboro first baseman Mark Canha lined a two-run single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to deliver the winning runs for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in a 5-4 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats in game one of the South Atlantic League Championship Series Monday night. Game two will be Tuesday in Greensboro.


The Grasshoppers appeared to have won the game two batters earlier. Wit the Gnats in front 4-3, and a runner at first, right fielder Marcel Ozuna ripped a shot down the left field line with what looked like his second home run of the game. The Grasshoppers raced out of the dugout to celebrate the two-run home run. However, third base umpire Aaron Reynolds ruled the ball foul. Grasshoppers manager Andy Haines was ejected in the subsequent argument. Savannah reliever Hamilton Bennett then walked Ozuna and left fielder Christian Yelich to load the bases. The Gnats turned to Ronny Morla to face the right-handed hitting Canha, who singled sharply into right-center field to chase home the winning runs for the ‘Hoppers. Bennett was charged with the loss.



The Gnats took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning on Blake Forsythe’s second home run of the game. Forsythe drilled two solo homers in the game, one to left in the third that tied the score at 2-2, and the go-ahead shot to right in the eighth.



The Grasshoppers took a 2-0 lead after two batters in the bottom of the first inning against Savannah starter Angel Cuan. Second baseman Noah Perio doubled to right field, and then right fielder Marcel Ozuna followed with a two-run blast to left field.



The Gnats rallied with single runs in each inning from the second through the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. In the second, 1B Joe Bonfe doubled and came home on Alonzo Harris’ sacrifice fly. Forsythe evened the game at 3-3 with the first of his solo home runs in the third. Harris’ long home run over the grassy berm in left field in the fourth put the Gnats up 3-2.



Greensboro 3B Ryan Fisher evened the game at 3-3 with a solo home run against Cuan leading off the bottom of the fifth inning.

Both teams had multiple opportunities for big innings. The Gnats left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings, while the ‘Hoppers left them loaded in the fifth and eighth innings.



First pitch from Greensboro Tuesday for game two is scheduled for 7 pm. The Gnats will send RHP Gonzalez Germen (7-7, 3.93 – regular season) against Greensboro RHP Robert Morey (7-7, 5.14 – regular season). The radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 6:50 pm.