GNATS TOPPLE TOURISTS 8-1 WEDNESDAY

Savannah, GA - The Savannah Sand Gnats toppled the first place Asheville Tourists in the first meeting between the two teams in 2012 by a score of 8-1 Wednesday night. The Gnats (34-23) are 5.5 behind the Tourists (40-18) for first place with 12 games to play in the first half.

Savannah starter Logan Verrett, in his first start off the disabled list and his first appearance since April 17th, took a no-hitter into the sixth. With one out in the sixth, Tourists’ leftfielder David Kandilas dropped a bunt single up the third base line to break up Verrett’s no-hit bid. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch to start the first, Verrett collected 16 outs in a row before Kandilas’ bunt. A pair of clean singles and his pitch count chased Verrett in the seventh inning. He earned his first win of 2012 in a season-high 6.1 innings of work, striking out four and walking one.

The Gnats scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first on back-to-back doubles by SS TJ Rivera and LF Dustin Lawley. Rivera, one of three Gnats’ All-Stars, finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and 3 RBI.

Savannah added two runs in the bottom of the third, keyed by a Brian Harrison RBI double, to increase the advantage to 3-0.

Two more runs, on RBI singles from DH Gregory Pron and Rivera gave the Gnats a 5-0 lead in the sixth.

The Tourists picked up their only run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by DH Tyler Massey.

The Gnats completed the game’s scoring with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Rivera doubled up the left-center field gap to drive home two and CF Travis Taijeron added a sacrifice fly to score Rivera.

The Gnats and Tourists are scheduled to play a double-header Thursday. The first of the two seven-inning games will begin at 5:45 with RHP Rafael Montero (5-2, 2.43) for the Gnats taking on RHP Ben Alsup (7-1, 4.57). In the nightcap, RHP Michael Fulmer (2-3, 3.49) will throw against LHP Tyler Anderson (3-0, 4.23).

from team press release