Savannah 18, Augusta 3

The Savannah Sand Gnats erupted for 18 runs on 19 hits to defeat the GreenJackets, 18-3, in front of 4,460 Saturday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The 18 runs scored is the most in almost five years as the Gnats scored 15 runs in Columbus on June 20, 2004.

In one for the record books, Savannah scored in every inning but the third and the sixth. They had their biggest inning of the night in the ninth when they scored six runs, two on Jean Luc Blaquiere’s first home run of the season. Josh Satin led the team in hits tonight, going 4-for-4 with a walk.

The last Sand Gnat to collect four hits in a game was Casey Craig in the first game of a doubleheader against Columbus on Aug. 8, 2008. Juan Lagares was 3-for-5 while Rafael Fernandez was 3-for-6. The seven through nine hitters in the Savannah lineup went a combined 10-for-15 with eight runs scored.

Overshadowed by the offensive onslaught was the effort from starting pitcher Robert Carson (1-0). Carson took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before Ben Woodbury singled up the middle with two away to break it. All told, Carson didn’t allow a run in six innings of work while striking out three. Kelvin Marte (0-1) lasted just three innings and permitted eight runs (four earned) on seven this. The Augusta bullpen wasn’t much better as they allowed the remainder of the 18 runs.