Series Preview: June 14-16 - Savannah vs. Rome

Probable Starters


Day Time Savannah Sand Gnats (37-26) Rome Braves (26-36)


Mon 7:05 RHP Brandon Moore (2-4, 2.32) LHP Brett Devall (2-4, 3.55)


Tue 7:05 LHP Jimmy Fuller (5-2, 1.90) RHP Caleb Brewer (1-0, 0.00)


Wed 7:05 LHP Mark Cohoon (6-1, 1.44) RHP David Hale (1-5, 5.98)






LHP Mark Cohoon - leads the SAL in ERA (1.44) and innings pitched (81.1)... has thrown back-to-back complete game shutouts


RHP Brandon Moore - leads the SAL in strikeouts (88)...#4 lowest BB/9 IP ratio among SAL starters (1.22) ... #9 in SAL in ERA (2.32)


OF Cesar Puello - owns a six-game hitting streak over which time he is hitting .450 (9 H/20 AB) with 3 doubles, 6 runs and 2 RBI


Rome


C Christian Bethancourt - ranked by Baseball America as the #6 prospect in Braves organization...#6 in the SAL in CS % (39.4)


OF Cory Harrilchak- the second-hardest hitter to strike out in SAL (10.09 TPA/SO)...his .295 batting average leads Rome



Series Preview


After taking two of three in Greensboro, the Gnats return home to play a three-game series against the last-place Rome Braves to finish their home schedule in the season’s first half. The Gnats finish the first half with four games in Augusta, which still leads Savannah by one game for first place.


The Gnats are 9-3 against Rome, their best record against any opponent in 2010. Savannah is a perfect 4-0 at home against Rome after outscoring the Braves 20-7 in a four-game sweep at Historic Grayson stadium in the second week of May. The Gnats have currently played 12 games against two teams: the Braves and the GreenJackets.


The middle of the Gnats’ order has enjoyed hitting against Rome. SS Wilmer Flores has hit .395/.477/.474 (AVG/OBP/SLG) against Rome with three doubles and nine RBI in 38 AB over 10 games. LF Juan Lagares has hit .362/.367/.553 with three triples, a home run and nine RBI in 47 AB over 11 games and 3B Jefry Marte has gone .333/.382/.533 with two home runs in 30 AB over eight games.


The Playoff Scenario


The Gnats are one game behind Augusta with seven games to play in the season’s first half. The GreenJackets currently hold the tiebreaker over Savannah by virtue of a better head-to-head record (8-4). The two teams finish the half with four games against each other in Augusta, where Savannah is 3-5 this year. If Savannah sweeps that series, the Gnats would own the tiebreaker. While the two teams would have the same head-to-head record at 8-8, the next tie-breaker is runs scored in head-to-head games. Savannah has outscored Augusta 49-40 in the teams’ games thus far this year, and would have a larger advantage post-sweep. Failing a sweep in Augusta, the Gnats need to win the division outright, by at least one game, to be the first half champs.