Savannah Pounds Out 15 Hits to Defeat Charleston, 10-5
June 11, 2007 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
The Savannah Sand Gnats, who entered the game last in league batting, pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of four Charleston errors as they doused the RiverDogs, 10-4, in South Atlantic League action Monday night in front of 2,487 fans at soggy Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
With the victory, Savannah snapped a six-game losing skid and improved to 19-45 on the season while Charleston fell to 34-30. The last-place Sand Gnats have beaten the RiverDogs in five of the team's last nine meetings.
Hector Pellot went 4-for-4 with two runs driven in and Francisco Pena added three hits and drove home two more to lead the Savannahs' offensive attack. Three more Savannah batters - Greg Veloz, Brahiam Maldonado and Joe Holden -- each contributed two hits.
Leading 3-2 after four frames, the Sand Gnats scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning, all scoring on one bizarre play. With runners on first and second and two out, Holden singled home a run through the right side. The initial throw to the plate from right fielder Josue Calzado bounced past catcher Jose Gil for an error allowing a second run to score. Then as Gil retrieved the ball and attempted a throw to the plate, pitcher Grant Duff dropped the ball allowing Holden to come around to score and make it a 6-2 game.
Charleston came back in the bottom of the fifth and pulled within two runs, 6-4, when Mitch Hilligoss, who has now hit safely in 46 of his last 47 games, led off the frame with a single to center. Austin Jackson then belted a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall for his third round-tripper of the season.
The Sand Gnats broke it open with three more runs in the sixth against Charleston reliever Garrett Patterson. Jose Thole singled home two runs and Pena later lined an RBI hit to center to make it 9-4.
Pellot singled home a run in the ninth inning with two outs against Charleston's fourth pitcher David Robertson.
The Sand Gnats started the game's scoring with two runs in the second inning. The first came when Daniel Stegall grounded to shortstop Eduardo Nunez with the bases loaded. Nunez thought that second baseman Wilmer Pino was covering the bag but instead Pino was late arriving at second, and Juan Lagares beat Nunez to the base scoring a run and giving Stegall an RBI fielder's choice. Duff (7-5) then walked Pellot to force in a run.
The RiverDogs came right back with a pair of runs of their own in the second stanza. Savannah starter Julio Polanco walked Josue Calzado with two out, and then Gil belted a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field fence for his fifth homer of the season to knot the score at 2-2.
The Sand Gnats broke the tie in the third inning with an unearned run when Pena singled home Thole. Thole led off the inning by striking out but advanced to first base on Gil's passed ball. He moved to second base on another passed ball and wound up on third after a wild pitch.
Charleston plated a run in the ninth when Chris Malec doubled and scored on a Seth Fortenberry bloop single between three Sand Gnats.
Jeremy Mizell collected the win for Savannah, improving his record to 3-5, as he pitched the final 4.2 innings. He allowed one run on six this, walked only one and struck out six.
The second game in this three-game block is set for 7:05 p.m. Tuesday with Charleston sending lefty Mike Dunn (7-2, 2.91 ERA) to the mound while Savannah counters with righty Tim Stronach (2-6, 6.14 ERA).
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South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2007
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