5/18/11

Team Pre-Game Notes: - Savannah vs. Charleston



RHP Erik Goeddel (2-2, 3.16) vs. RHP Zach Nuding (4-2, 3.75)


Game #39 - Road Game #22 - Wednesday – 7:05


Joseph P. Riley Park, Charleston, SC


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





Tonight: The Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, play game two of a three game series in Charleston against the RiverDogs, SAL affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Gnats are 3-2 on their current seven-game road trip and return home for a four-game home stand against the Greenville Drive on Friday.



Last Night: Each team hit three home runs, but the RiverDogs came away with a 9-4 victory over Savannah. The Dogs scored in each their final four at-bats, combining for seven runs from the fifth through eighth innings. SS Robbie Shields was 3-4 with a run for the Gnats.



Now Pitching: RHP Erik Goeddel is scheduled to make his eighth start of the year for Savannah tonight. In his last three starts, Goeddel has allowed just 12 hits, two walks and three runs in 19 innings with 19 strikeouts for a K/BB of 9.5 and an ERA of 1.42. The Mets drafted Goeddel in the 24th round of the 2010 draft out of UCLA. He made only one appearance for the GCL Mets on August 14, 2010 throwing one inning with one hit and one strikeout. Goeddel underwent Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school at San Jose’s Bellarmine Prep in 2007 and missed most of the next two years at UCLA. In 2010 he was excellent for the Bruins out of the bullpen, striking out 59 and walking 23 while giving up 44 hits in 50 innings. In decimal form he had a 10.6 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and 7.9 H/9 at UCLA in 2010. Coming into the 2011 season, Goeddel was ranked as the Mets’ 17th best prospect by Baseball America, and the team’s 16th best by Baseball Prospectus. The Gnats are 4-3 when Goeddel starts and have supported him with 3.3 runs per game, the second-lowest among Savannah starters.



Cory’s Cuts: Cory Vaughn leads the South Atlantic League and is fourth in all of minor league baseball with a .482 on-base percentage. Vaughn rides a personal-best eight-game hitting streak over which time he is 13-for-28 (.464) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, eight walks and six strikeouts. Vaughn has reached base in 19 straight games, the third-longest active streak in the SAL behind Bryce Massanari (33 games) and Bryce Harper (24 games).



About Those HR: Last night was the second time in 2011 in which the Gnats hit three home runs in a game. It was also the second time this year the Gnats gave up three home runs in a game. … The Gnats are 4-11 in games in which they allow a home run on the road and are 6-9 in games in which they homer on the road.



Streaking: Robbie Shields owns a seven-game hitting streak over which time he is 14-for-30 (.467) with four doubles, two triples, five runs scored and seven RBI. Shields is hitting .340/.400/.566 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with nine extra-base hits in 14 games in May. He is tied for the SAL lead with four triples…. Darrell Ceciliani owns a six-game hitting streak. In his last six games, he’s hitting .385 (10 H/26 AB), two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and eight runs scored. He’s crossed home plate in five of his last six games.


Pitching to the Top of the Charts: The Gnats lead the SAL in ERA (3.47) and are now second in WHIP (1.27). In every single one of Savannah’s eight road wins, Savannah pitching has held their opponents to three runs or fewer.






Versus Charleston: The Gnats are 0-1 against Charleston in 2011. The two teams are scheduled for eight games in Savannah and seven in Charleston. The Gnats finished 9-4 against Charleston in 2010, 3-1 at home and 6-3 on the road.

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