Savannah Sand Gnats Pre-Game Notes

Savannah Sand Gnats (29-24, 1st, Southern) vs. Kannapolis Intimidators (28-24, 3rd, Northern)



Game #54 - Home Game #27 - Friday – 7:05


LHP Chase Huchingson (2-2, 2.40) vs. RHP Dexter Carter (0-1, 6.23)


Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA


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



Tonight: The first place Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, play game three of their four-game series tonight against the Kannapolis Intimidators, SAL affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Gnats are 4-1 on their current seven-game home stand and have won 10 of 12 games overall.



Last Night: The Intimidators scored seven runs in the fifth through eighth innings against the Gnats’ bullpen for a 7-4 win. Three different Gnats, SS Robbie Shields, RF Cory Vaughn and 1B Sam Honeck had two hits.

Now Pitching: LHP Chase Huchingson is scheduled to make his sixth start and his 11th appearance as a Sand Gnat tonight. His ERA of 2.40 would be good enough for third in the SAL, except he is 1.1 innings shy of qualifying for the League leaderboard. In his last two starts, the left-hander has given up just one run on seven hits in 10 innings with 13 strikeouts against four walks. Huchingson pitched for the Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian League in 2010, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in five games, including two starts. In 11 innings pitched, he gave up six runs, five earned, on nine hits and five walks while fanning 13. The Mets signed Huchingson as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Central Arkansas in 2010. Huchingson was an outfielder and a pitcher for the UCA Bears. He hit .236 in 89 AB and on the mound, was 1-4 with an 8.36 ERA in 10 starts and 13 appearances overall, with 32 strikeouts in 42 innings. Huchingson began his collegiate career with two years at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Gnats are 4-1 when Huchingson starts and have supported him with 4.40 runs per game.



Standings Update: The Gnats lead the Greenville Drive and the Lexington Legends by 3.5 games for first place with 16 to play in the first half. Lexington beat West Virginia 3-1 yesterday, while the Drive lost 9-8 in 10 innings in Hagerstown.