Game #62 - Home Game #32 - Sunday – 6:05
RHP Yohan Almonte (2-2, 3.21) vs. RHP Caleb Brewer (4-2, 3.04)
Historic Grayson Stadium, Savannah, GA
Radio: News/Talk 630 WBMQ & http://www.sandgnats.com/
Tonight: The first place Gnats, SAL affiliate of the New York Mets, begin a four-game set with the Rome Braves, SAL affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Savannah has a magic number of four to clinch their second-straight First Half Championship. The Gnats, who have won four in a row, are nine games over .500 for the first time in 2011.
Last Night: Darrell Ceciliani ripped a two-run double into the right field corner to put the Gnats ahead in a three-run eighth inning in a 4-2 win over Augusta. The Gnats used two three-run innings and two-five run innings to sweep the three games against Augusta.
Now Pitching: Yohan Almonte is scheduled to make his ninth start of the year today. Almonte has thrown seven consecutive scoreless innings in his last two starts, yielding just four hits and no walks while fanning six. He has made three starts since returning from a lower back strain that sidelined him for 27 days. Almonte owns a K/BB ratio of 6 (24 K/4 BB). In 2010, Almonte led the New York-Penn League in ERA (1.91), IP (89.2) and WHIP (0.93), averaging nearly six innings per start. He had the second-lowest batting average against among New York-Penn League starters at .207 and the third-lowest unintentional walk/9 IP (1.41) with a K/BB ratio of 4 (60 K/15 BB). The 21-year old Almonte has moved steadily through the Mets system advancing from the Dominican Summer League in 2008 to the Gulf Coast League and then the Appalachian League in 2009, to the New York Penn League in 2010 before joining the Gnats, his first full-season team, in 2011. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. The Gnats are 4-4 when Almonte starts and have supported him with 3.8 runs per game.
Playoff Scenario: The Gnats lead the Greenville Drive by 4.5 games for first place with eight games to play in the first half for both teams. Savannah’s magic number, the combination of Gnats wins and Drive losses, to clinch the first half title, is four. The Gnats finish the first half with four games in Greenville Thursday-Sunday.
Tovar Turning it On: Wilfredo Tovar has hit safely in a personal season-best 10 games going 15-35 (.429) with a two doubles, two walks, one strikeout and one RBI. He’s raised his batting average 40 points, from .185 at the start of his streak to .225 today.
Winning Series: Since April 30, when the Gnats were 7-14, Savannah is 8-2-1 in their 11 series, 4-0-1 at home and 4-2 on the road. For the year, the Gnats are 5-1-2 at home with two sweeps. In their last six series overall since May 20, the Gnats are 5-0-1.
Rodriguez Rolling: In his last seven games, Aderlin Rodriguez is 10-for-28 (.357) with three doubles.
Livin’ on the Edge: Closer Josh Edgin is second in the SAL in saves (14), second among relievers in fewest baserunners/9 IP (7.39) and third among SAL relievers in both lowest batting average against (.135) and strikeout rate (12.5 K/9 IP). Edgin has not allowed a run in his last 14 appearances nor an earned run since April 26, a span of 16 appearances.
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