Gnats Game Notes: Sunday, August 15 vs. Kannapolis - 6:05 pm

from press release:
Savannah Sand Gnats vs. Kannapolis Intimidators 
Game #119 - Home Game #57 - Sunday – 6:05
RHP John Church (6-1, 2.26) vs. RHP Justin Collop (8-8, 4.59)
Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA

Radio: News/Talk 630 and http://www.sandgnats.com/



Tonight: The first-half-champion Gnats look for their second straight win in game four of their nine-game home stand and game four of their five-game series against the Kannapolis Intimidators, the SAL affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.



Last Night: The Sand Gnats torched the Intimidators 8-2. Starter Taylor Whitenton struck out a career-high 11 batters in five shutout innings for his seventh win. The Gnats put the game away with a four-run sixth inning that featured back-to-back RBI doubles from SS Wilfredo Tovar, Alonzo Harris and Matt den Dekker. The Gnats tied a season high, originally set on May 8th in Lakewood with 15 strikeouts in a nine-inning game.


Now Pitching: John Church will make his ninth start of the year after joining the rotation over the All-Star Break. Church, who gave up one run in his first three starts, has given up three runs or more in each of his last five. In his last five starts, Church has allowed 16 runs, 13 earned, in 22.2 innings for a 5.16 ERA, while walking 15 with 20 strikeouts while allowing opponents to hit .270 (24 H/89 AB). Church’s 2.26 ERA would be good enough for fourth in the SAL, but he is still 19 innings short of qualifying for the league leaders. Church made 21 relief appearances with Savannah last year and one with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League. With Savannah last year, Church was 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks in 29 innings. The Mets drafted Church in the 23rd round of the 2009 amateur draft out of the University of West Florida.


Matt den Dekker, has hit safely in his first six games as a Gnat, going 11-for-24 with five doubles, five runs scored, and six RBI. Thursday, he became the first Gnat to hit three doubles in a game. As a senior, den Dekker helped lead the Florida Gators to their first College World Series since 2005. The Mets drafted den Dekker in the fifth round out of the University of Florida in June 2010.