The Savannah Sand Gnats defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds in a 3-2 nail bitter on Wednesday to take the series 2-1. Starter Ricky Knapp was solid, striking out eight batters over five innings. Relievers Akeel Morris and Robert Coles pitched another combined four scoreless innings to shut the door.
Delmarva (9-10) outhit Savannah (11-6) for the third night in a row, notching eight base hits to Savannah’s four. Savannah has now played eight consecutive games without outhitting their opponent, but nonetheless has gone 5-3 over that stretch.
Speedy center fielder Gregory Lorenzo put Delmarva up early, scampering home on a throwing error by L.J. Mazzilli in the first inning. The Gnats struck back in the third inning when catcher Colton Plaia plated designated hitter Matt Oberste with his first triple of the year. Plaia was then able to score on a throwing error to first base by shortstop Jeff Kemp.
The Birds then promptly tied the game at 2-2 when Kemp doubled home Lorenzo in the bottom half of the inning. Although Gnats starter Knapp turned in a no-decision, he earned eight strikeouts for the second consecutive start and now has 18 strikeouts on the season.
Savannah scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when right fielder Victor Cruz tripled and then scored by way of a Dominic Smith sacrifice fly ball. Nothing is ever automatic, but when leading after seven innings, the Gnats are now a perfect 8-0.
Reliever Akeel Morris was again impressive striking out three and walking just one batter over three innings pitched, earning his second win of the season. Despite working exclusively in relief, he still leads the Sand Gnats with 19 stikeouts. Opponents have been held to just a .083 average against the righthander this season.
Robert Coles earned his third save of the season by quelling a Delmarva two-out rally in the ninth inning. With runners on second and third, the Crawford, Fla., native forced first baseman Tony Mancini to pop up for the final out. Both Coles and Morris have yet to allow an earned run this season. - team press release
If Mazzilli had another last name, he'd get no attention - his on base % and slugging % is atrocious. Cecchini hitting about the same, but on base is nearly .350.
ReplyDeleteThe real reason Savannah is doing well is the trio of Akeel Morrois, Dario Alvarez, and Robert Coles Combined, they have allowed no runs in 33 innings, only 15 hits and 50 Ks. Imagine that sort of bullpen performance on the major league level right now.