Savannah Sand Gnats All Over Charleston RiverDogs, Gnats Win 5-4 in 13 - A, South Atlantic League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - SAVANNAH– Casey Craig hit a game-winning bases-loaded single to give Savannah a 5-4, 13-inning triumph over the Charleston RiverDogs at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah.

The RiverDogs (41-21) lost for just the second time in their last 11 games, and are now 2-2 in extra inning affairs this season. Savannah (28-34) registered just its second victory over Charleston in 10 games this season, both of which have come at Historic Grayson Stadium

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Craig's single off RiverDogs' reliever Ryan Zink (0-1) found its way through the drawn-in infield, and kept Charleston from gaining ground on the Asheville Tourists, who lost to the Greenville Drive, 7-3, but the deficit remains at 2.5 games with eight games remaining in the first half.

Charleston began the scoring in the fourth inning, when Jesus Montero clobbered his seventh home runs of the season, a solo shot that well-cleared the left-field fence, off Sand Gnats starter Maikel Cleto for a 1-0 RiverDogs lead.

Savannah scored four unearned runs in the fourth inning off Jairo Heredia, aided by an error and two passed balls. Francisco Pena struck out for the apparent second out of the inning, but the pitch got by Austin Romine allowing Jose Jimenez, who tripled one batter before, to score the tying run.

Richard Pena's tapper in front of the plate was thrown into centerfield by Romine for an error, putting runners at second and third. Carlos Guzman doubled in Francisco Pena to make the score 2-1, and Richard Pena scored on the second passed ball of the inning for a 3-1 score. Shortstop Matt Bouchard's RBI single made it 4-1 after four innings.

Heredia lasted just 4.2 innings allowing the four runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in the no-decision.

Charleston responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3, when Justin Snyder smashed a triple to left centerfield scoring Abraham Almonte, and then scored on a passed ball to produce an unearned run.

The RiverDogs collected two hits off Cleto in the sixth to chase him out of the game. Walter Ibarra's two-out, infield RBI single off reliever Josh Stinson scored Romine to knot the affair at 4-4.

The game remained silent until the 13^th when Savannah loaded the bases with only one out. Craig then hit the game-winner to end the four-plus hour marathon.

Brant Rustich (1-1) recorded two outs in the top of the 13^th to notch his first win of the season. The RiverDogs were convincingly hushed over the final seven innings, having only three total runners reach base. Brandon Laird went 3-for-5 to lead Charleston's 11-hit attack, while Almonte, Montero and Romine had two each.

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