Gnats Game Notes: Thursday, June 17 @ Augusta - 7:05 pm

From Press Release:

Savannah Sand Gnats (40-26, 1st, Southern) vs. Augusta GreenJackets (39-27, 2nd, Southern)


Game #67 - Road Game #32 - Thursday – 7:05


RHP Armando Rodriguez (4-4, 3.26) vs. RHP Chris Heston (2-6, 5.74)


Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, GA



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





Tonight: The Gnats, who lead the Augusta GreenJackets by one game for first place in the SAL Southern Division begin a four-game series in Augusta to finish the half with the Division championship on the line. The Gnats need two wins in the next four games to secure their first playoff appearance since 1996.



Last Night: The Gnats matched their largest margin of victory with a 12-0 beat down to finish a sweep of the Rome Braves. The Gnats’ only other 12-run margin of victory was in Augusta on April 22, in a 16-4 blowout. LHP Mark Cohoon tied a South Atlantic League record, last achieved in 1992, with his third consecutive complete game shutout. The Gnats scored 12 runs despite their 3-4-5 hitters, Wilmer Flores, Juan Lagares and Jefry Marte combining to go 1-13 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and four strikeouts.



Now Pitching: Armando Rodriguez is scheduled to make his team-leading 14th start for Savannah. Since May 1, Rodriguez is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 40 innings and has allowed opponents to hit just .178 (25 H/140 AB). For the year, Rodriguez’s opponent’s batting average of .203 is the fifth-besst in the SAL. The Gnats are 8-5 when Rodriguez throws and have supported him with 5.46 runs per game, the second-most among Savannah starters. With Kingsport a year ago, he was 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 20 walks in 45.2 innings. Promoted to Savannah on August 27th, he finished the year with a dominant three-start performance in which he allowed just five hits in 16.2 innings and struck out 24. The Mets signed Rodriguez as a non-drafted free agent June 6, 2007.



Hot Now: The Gnats are 10-2 in their last 12 games, outscoring their opponents by a combined 71-32 over that span. Savannah is hitting .300 (124 H/413 AB) over that time. In their last 12 games, the Gnats have gone from three games behind Augusta to one game up.



Vs. the GreenJackets: Savannah is 4-8 against Augusta this year, 3-5 in Augusta. The Gnats won three of four from Augusta in a four-game series in April, outscoring the GreenJackets 41-19. However, Savannah’s last visit to Augusta, May 16-20, was a different story as GreenJackets pitching held Savannah to one run over 45 innings in four games on their way to a four-game sweep.