Fernandez outdues Fulmer in Savannah

Savannah, GA - In a battle of first round pitchers from the 2011 draft class, Jose Fernandez led his Greensboro Grasshoppers to a 2-0 victory over Michael Fulmer and his Savannah Sand Gnats Thursday night at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Marlins selected Fernandez 14th overall, while the Mets drafted Fulmer 44th in the supplemental first round.

The Grasshoppers (39-15) scored the game’s first run in the top of the fourth inning. CF Brent Keys, who was leading the SAL in batting average and on-base percentage entering the night, dragged a bunt for a leadoff single. After stealing second and advancing to third on a single, Keys scored on sacrifice fly by Greensboro RF James Wooster.

After a single and a throwing error loaded the bases, Fulmer limited the damage in the inning by inducing a groundball double play to end the threat.

Fulmer finished five innings for the fourth time this season, yielding just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five.

Fernandez shut out the Gnats (31-22) through six innings on two hits. He walked two and struck out eight. Savannah did not get a runner past first base against Fernandez until TJ Rivera’s one-out double in the bottom of the sixth. Savannah stranded runners on base in the fourth through eighth innings.

The ‘Hoppers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth against reliever TJ Chism to finish the game’s scoring.

The Gnats send RHP Rafael Montero (4-2, 2.81) to the mound against RHP Josh Hodges (4-1, 3.62) in game two of the series on Friday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. Gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast, presented by Subway begins on News/Talk 630 and online at sandgnats.com at 6:45 pm.

from team press release