Savannah 9, Delmarva 1
Luis Cessa tossed six shutout innings to lead the Savannah Sand Gnats to a 9-1 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds Tuesday night at Historic Grayson Stadium in the first game of the Gnats’ 10-game home stand.
Cessa, who improved to 2-0, with a 1.02 ERA after his third start, scattered five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
The Gnats (10-8) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. After 2B Chad Zurcher walked to start the frame, 1B Jayce Boyd doubled up the left centerfield gap to drive home Zurcher. LF Gregory Pron ripped a double almost in the same spot as Boyd, that bounced over the wall for a ground rule double, to bring home Boyd.
The Gnats expanded their lead to 5-0 with a three-run fourth inning keyed by SS Philip Evans. With two on and two out, Evans dropped a two-run double down the right field line and then scored on RF Eudy Pina‘s single into left field.
Savannah added a run in the fifth and then three in the sixth. Both of the Gnats’ three-run innings – the fourth and sixth – began with two outs and the bases empty. Boyd drove home a run in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and two RBI.
The Shorebirds (11-8) scored their only run in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Julian Hilario.
The Gnats send RHP Matthew Bowman (2-0, 1.62) to the mound on Wednesday in the second game of the three-game series against the ‘Birds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
Key Stats
Brandon Nimmo: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB
Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Gregory Pron: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Phillip Evans: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R
Eudy Pina: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
Luis Cessa: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 7 K
Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 ER
(Team Report)
