In a familiar pattern, the Savannah Sand Gnats played their third extra-inning game in a row, falling 9-8 in 10 innings to the Lexington Legends, Saturday night. The Gnats' two runs in the tenth inning was not enough to secure the victory. The Gnats have dropped two of their three consecutive extra-inning contests despite scoring multiple runs after the ninth inning in each game.
The final Lexington comeback came after Savannah scored two runs without a hit in the top of the 10th. With the score tied 6-6 after nine innings, the Sand Gnats' Nick Santomauro walked to lead off the 10th. Juan Torres sacrificed Santomauro to second. After Wander Alvino relieved Mike Schurz for Lexington, R.J. Harris walked. A passed ball charged to catcher Rene Garcia put the runners at second and third. Jet Butler's grounder was bobbled by first baseman Aaron Bray for an error, scoring Santomauro and sending Harris to third. Harris later scored on a wild pitch to put Savannah ahead 8-6.
Jiovanni Mier led off the bottom of the 10th for the Legends with a single, but Renzo Tello fouled out to third and Grant Hogue struck out. A wild pitch on the third strike allowed Mier to advance to second. Jose Altuve's grounder looked like a game-ending play, but shortstop Robbie Shields threw past first for an error. Mier scored on the play and Altuve advanced to second. Miguel Arrendell doubled past center fielder R.J. Harris, driving Altuve home with the tying run. Jake Goebbert then hit a line drive into right center field for the game winner.
Savannah took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a triple by leadoff hitter Alonzo Harris and an infield out by Shields.
The Legends responded with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Jonathan Meyer walked, and went to third on a throwing error by pitcher Armando Rodriguez on a ball hit by Garcia. After Mier walked to load the bases, Tello singled home two runs and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Hogue followed with another two-run single to put Lexington up 4-1.
That lead held up until the sixth inning. Alex Gregory walked, went to second on a single by Harris and scored on a base hit by Shields. After Daniel Sarisky relieved Lexington starter Zach Grimmett, Cesar Puello singled, driving Harris home to make the score 4-3. Santomauro followed with a hit to load the bases. A force play at second base brought home the tying run, and a sacrifice fly by R.J. Harris put the Sand Gnats in front 5-4. Patrick Farrell's base hit scored Torres to give Savannah a two-run lead.
The Legends tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Garcia doubled, Mier walked and Tello singled to load the bases. Hogue's infield out scored Garcia, and Altuve, who had four hits in five at bats, singled to score Mier with the tying run. The score remained 6-6 until the decisive 10th inning.
Alvino (5-2) got the win. Guillaume Leduc (0-1), who entered the game in the eighth inning, took the loss.
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