TAPIA GROUNDS SHOREBIRDS IN 3-1 WIN THURSDAY

Savannah,GA - Domingo Tapia wasdominant over 7.1 innings, the longest start of the year by a Gnats’ pitcher,to lead Savannah to a 3-1 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1 Thursdaynight in front of 2,258 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium.  The Gnats (16-11) won their fourth straightgame.

Tapia gave up a pair of singles in the first inning, but escapedtrouble with the help of 3B AderlinRodriguez, who threw out a runner at the plate for the inning’s second out.That began a stretch where Tapia set down 14 batters in a row through the endof the fifth inning. Tapia improved to 2-1 with the win.

The Gnats scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the firstinning to take a 1-0 lead. 2B BrandonBrown led off with a double and came home to score on DH Travis Taijeron’s single through theleft side of the infield.

C Albert Cordero gavethe Gnats a 2-0 advantage with a solo home run in the second inning. It was hisfirst longball of the year.

Savannah made it 3-0 in the sixth. Taijeron reached on an infieldsingle, and scored on RF CharleyThurber’s triple into right field.

The Shorebirds (13-13) scored their only run in the top of theeighth. After he recorded the first out of the frame, a single and a walkchased Tapia from the game. Reliever EstarlinMorel walked the ‘Birds #9 hitter, MychalGivens to load the bases and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Glynn Davis to plate the Delmarva run.With the tying run at first, Gnats’ leftfielder Gregory Pron made a diving catch to take a base hit away from thesubsequent batter, Sammie Starr, toend the frame and keep the Gnats in front 3-1.

Morel worked an uneventful ninth to wrap up his second save of theyear.

Delmarva starter ParkerBridwell gave up three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings and was chargedwith the loss to fall to 2-1.

The Gnats look for the sweep Friday night when they send RHP Tyler Pill (2-1, 2.11) to the hillagainst RHP Tyler Wilson (3-1,2.45). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast,presented by Subway, begins on News/Talk 630 and online at sandgnats.com at6:45 pm.