Savannah 6, Lexington 2

Fernandez leads Sand Gnats past Legends 6-2




Savannah's Rafael Fernandez had a single, a double, a triple and two RBI as

the Sand Gnats defeated the Lexington Legends 6-2 Saturday night at Whitaker

Bank Ballpark.



The game was scoreless through the first three innings, but Savannah broke

through in the fourth when Fernandez doubled and scored on a two-out single

by Albert Cordero.



The Sand Gnats added three runs in the fifth. Luis Nieves and Alonzo Harris

started the inning with singles. After Nieves was forced out at third on

Darrell Ceciliani's bunt, Wilfredo Tovar singled, scoring Harris and sending

Ceciliani to second. Fernandez followed with a triple, driving home Tovar

and Ceciliani to give Savannah a 4-0 lead.



In the Savannah sixth, Cordero singled leading off against Legends' reliever

Juan Minaya. Juan Torres walked, and Nieves singled, loading the bases.

Harris struck out, but Ceciliani's single scored Cordero and gave the Sand

Gnats a 5-0 advantage.



Savannah added its final run in the ninth. Harris walked and moved from

first to third when Tovar grounded out on a slow bouncer to third baseman

Mike Kvasnicka. Harris came home on a wild pitch by Brad Dydalewicz.



The Legends' only scoring came in the bottom of the ninth when Ben Orloff

walked and Bryce Lane hit his fourth home run of the year.

Savannah starter Yohan Almonte (8-8) worked six shutout innings and allowed

three hits. David Martinez (5-7) was the starting and losing pitcher for

Lexington.