Gnats Game Notes: Monday, May 3rd @ Delmarva - 7:05 pm

From Press Release:

Savannah Sand Gnats (16-8, 1st, Southern) vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (13-10, 2nd, Northern)

Game #25 - Road Game #9 - Monday – 7:05

RHP Taylor Whitenton (0-1, 3.38) vs. RHP Jesse Beal (1-2, 5.09)

Arthur W. Perdue Stadium - Delmarva, MD

Radio: WBMQ News/Talk 630, http://www.sandgnats.com/

Tonight: The first-place Gnats begin an eight game road trip and a four game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds. The Gnats, who have the best record in the SAL, lead the Greenville Drive by one full game and the Augusta GreenJackets by three games for first place in the SAL Southern Division. Savannah hits the road after finishing off a 6-2 homestand against the Hickory Crawdads and the Lexington Legends.

Last Time Out: The Sand Gnats enjoyed their first off day of the season Sunday, after finishing off a sweep of the Lexington Legends with a 3-1 win Saturday evening at Historic Grayson Stadium. Brandon Moore and Collin McHugh combined to allow just five hits on Saturday in a game in which just one Legend reached third base.

Now Pitching: Taylor Whitenton will make his third start for the Savannah Sand Gnats tonight. He and Darrin Gorski have been splitting the final spot in the Gnats rotation in a “piggyback” plan. Savannah is 1-1 when Whitenton starts. In his last appearance, Whitenton fired four scoreless, hitless innings in relief of Gorski in a 4-3 loss to Hickory on Tuesday, April 27. Whitenton gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in two innings in the Gnats 16-4 win over Augusta in his last start on April 22.

First Things First: The Gnats have had at least a share of first place since beating Augusta on April 21

Roster Update: Michael Moras was transferred back to Savannah from AA Binghamton on May 2 after being sent to Binghamton on April 24. Moras did not see action in any game in AA, and has played in just one game for Savannah this year.

Hot: Jefry Marte has hit safely in his last six games over which time he is 7-for-20 (.350) with two doubles and 3 RBI…. Cesar Puello has hit safely in his last six games over which time he is 7-for-19 (.368) with five stolen bases, two walks, six runs scored and an RBI….Alex Gregory has hit safely in six straight games. In those six games, he is hitting .454 (10-for-22) with one double and four runs scored.

Not: Pedro Zapata is one for his last 18….Jeff Flagg was 0-for-10 in the series against Lexington and was 3-26 (.115) on the Gnats most recent homestand...

Flo - tastic: Gnats shortstop Wilmer Flores has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games. The 18-year old is seventh in the SAL in batting average (.341), eighth in slugging (.560), fourth in hits (31), tied for sixth in doubles (9) and is fifth in total bases (51). Flores hit three home runs in 125 games in 2009, but equaled that mark 22 games into the 2010 season.

Pitching and Defense: Gnats have the second-best ERA in the SAL (2.82), but have allowed the fewest runs (77) in the league. Rome has allowed the second-fewest runs (88). The Gnats have allowed 10 unearned runs, the fewest in the SAL. Savannah pitching has walked 65 batters, tied for the fewest in the League.

Four for Sure: Savannah is 15-1 when scoring four or more runs and 1-7 when scoring three runs or fewer. When Gnats pitching allows fewer than four runs, the team is 13-3.