Game Day: - Savannah Sand Gnats

From Press Release:

Savannah Sand Gnats (41-26, 1st, Southern) vs. Augusta GreenJackets (39-28, 2nd, Southern)



Game #68 - Road Game #33 - Friday – 7:05


RHP Collin McHugh (2-4, 3.79) vs. RHP Jorge Bucardo (6-2, 1.57)


Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, GA



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





Tonight: The Gnats, who lead the Augusta GreenJackets by two games for first place in the SAL Southern Division play game two of a four-game series in Augusta to finish the first half. The Gnats need one win in the next three games to secure their first playoff appearance since 1996.



Last Night: The Gnats beat Augusta 4-1 behind 6.1 innings from starter Armando Rodriguez and 2.2 scoreless innings from the Savannah bullpen. DH Pedro Zapata was 2-4 with a walk, scored the first Savannah run and drove home the last.



Now Pitching: Collin McHugh will make his seventh start of the year, and his fourth in a row after making seven of out eight appearances out of the bullpen from April 21-May 26. In his last start, McHugh gave eight runs in the just one inning of work in Greensboro in an 11-1 Savannah loss. It was the shortest start by a Gnats pitcher this year; three previous times a Savannah starter had thrown only two innings. The eight runs allowed were also the most by a Savannah pitcher in any game this year. Last year, McHugh was 8-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 75 innings for the Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York-Penn League. He struck out 79 and walked 21. McHugh was 13-9 with five saves in his career at Berry (GA) College and led the Southern States Athletic Conference in strikeout rate (9.05 K/9) in his junior year in 2008. The Mets drafted McHugh in the 18th round in 2008.


Hot Now: The Gnats have won five in a row to match their season-best winning streak. Overall, Savannah has won nine of 10 and 11 of 13, outscoring their opponents by a combined 75-33 in their 13-game run. Savannah is hitting .294 (131 H/445 AB) in their last 13 games and .312 in their last 10. In their last 13 games, the Gnats have gone from three games behind Augusta to two games up.