Brooklyn, N.Y. – September 1, 2013 – What Sunday night’s game lacked in runs early, it made up for late as all nine runs scored came from the seventh inning on as Aberdeen held on for a 5-4 victory over the Cyclones at MCU Park.  Brooklyn rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the come back fell just short.  Tonight marked the first time in 30 games that the Cyclones led after seven innings and did not win.

LHP Dario Alvarez, a minor league free agent who spent the last three seasons out of affiliated baseball, took the mound for Brooklyn opposite Baltimore’s first round selection in the 2013 Draft, Hunter Harvey, and matched him pitch for pitch. The southpaw tossed 5.2 innings shutout innings, scattering four hits and three walks, while striking out six. Alvarez worked his way out of trouble in the top of the first, but cruised along nicely until his final inning of work. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for the IronBirds with two outs, forcing Alvarez to hand the ball over to the bullpen.Tyler Vanderheiden made quick work of Frederico Castagini, who grounded out weakly to first base to end the threat.

Hunter Harvey was just as impressive on the mound for Abereen, as the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 Draft allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out five over his 4.1 innings before being removed due to pitch count restrictions.

The scoreless tie extended into the seventh inning, when Jared King started the excitement with an acrobatic catch down the left field line, leaping into the visitor’s bullpen for the final out of the frame. The catch seemed to awaken the anxious crowd as well as the Brooklyn bats, because in the bottom of the frame Brooklyn would finally break the scoreless tie. Gavin Cecchini singled to start the frame and King worked a one-out walk to put a pair aboard for James Roche. Roche hit a grounder down to third base that Tanner Rust fielded and stepped on third to record the first out, but Roche hustled down the line to beat out the relay throw for what would have been an inning ending double play. Roche’s hustle would be rewarded, as Alex Sanchez took advantage of the scoring chance by lining a single up the middle that chased home Jared King to give Brooklyn a 1-0 edge.

The lead was short-lived however because in the Aberdeen’s next turn at bat, they would draw even. Jeff Kemp was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and was later thrown out attempting to steal for the second out of the inning. The caught stealing would prove to be significant, because just a few pitches later Conor Bierfeldt connected on his 12th home run of the season to knot the score at 1-1.

After Brooklyn appeared to have the makings of a rally in the bottom of the frame, after Colton Plaia walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Aberdeen hurler Janser Severino struck out to side to quell the uprising.

In the ninth, Brooklyn wouldn’t be as lucky, as the IronBirds scored three times to take control of the game. A single and a walk started the frame and Brooklyn reliever Paul Paez quickly found himself in a jam. Tanner Rust then laid down a sacrifice bunt that Paez fielded and threw to third in hopes of retiring the lead runner, but Frederico Castagnini slid in safely to load the bases. After George Barber was retired on an infield fly, Mike Yastrzemski connected on the decisive blow. The grandson of the former Red Sox great, Carl Yastrzemski ripped a bases-clearing double off the left field wall, scoring three and giving Aberdeen the 4-1 advantage. Yastrzemski would come around to score later in the frame thanks to a throwing error from Colton Plaia, to make the final score 5-1.

That tack on run would prove important because the Cyclones clawed their way back in the bottom of the frame.  L.J. Mazzilli and Jared King connected on back-to-back singles to start the frame, and James Roche reached on a throwing error which allowed Mazzilli to score and put a pair of runners in scoring position with nobody out.  Alex Sanchez followed with his second RBI of the game, by way of a run scoring ground out, and Tomas Nido singled to plate King and make it 5-4.  But Brooklyn wouldn’t get any closer as Colton Plaia popped out to second base and Anthony Chavez lined out to right to end the game.

The Cyclones will head to Tri-City for a three-game set to end the regular season with faint hopes of making the playoffs. The Cyclones must win at least two games, and hope that the Lowell Spinners sweep the IronBirds.

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Charleston 6, Savannah 3

It was a battle for Steven Matz in this game, who never really found his groove. He was saddled with the loss after he allowed five runs, four of them earned, and was lifted before he could finish the fifth inning. Julian Hilario allowed an inherited runner to score, which closed the book on Matz, and left Savannah in a 5-1 hole. Gregory Pron had doubled home Cole Frenzel in the fourth to put Savannah on the board.

Matz gave up seven hits and three walks, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the first that really set him back. It was a so-so performance overall as he looks to navigate his way through the SAL. Paul Sewald tossed a scoreless inning in relief, while Tyler Vanderheiden allowed a run in the eighth.

The Sand Gnats made a last ditch effort to come back in the ninth, where Eudy Pina drove in two runs with a double, but that threat was neutralized.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 1 BB

Gregory Pron: 2-for-4, 1 2B

Steven Matz: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 K

Julian Hilario: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1-1 Inherited Runners Scored

Paul Sewald: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 ER, 1 K

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Rome 4, Savannah 1

The final game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 1,348 fans Sunday afternoon at Grayson Stadium. Rome won the game 4-1 to even the series at 2-2. The Sand Gnats were held to just three hits while committing four errors, effectively giving them more errors than hits on the afternoon.

In the third inning, Rome scored when shortstop Ronald Luna singled and scored on a single by second baseman Levi Hyams. A sacrifice fly later in the inning allowed Hyams to score. In the bottom of the third, Savannah scored their only run on a home run by Stefan Sabol over the left field fence, his second of the season. Leading off the sixth inning for the Braves, Tyler Tewell hit a home run over the right field fence, his second this season. Right fielder Felix Martel tripled and scored when the relay throw hit him and went into the Rome dugout.

Savannah starter Matt Koch (1-2) lasted four innings, allowed two runs, one earned, while he gave up five hits and no walks. He struck out four.
It was a nice attendance on Mother’s Day. Savannah travels to play at Charleston Monday evening.

Key Stats

Maikis De La Cruz: 1-for-4

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3

Stefan Sabol: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

Matthew Koch: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K

Tim Peterson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Jake Kuebler: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 ER, 3 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

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Savannah 3, West Virginia 2

Cole Frenzel drove home Kevin Plawecki with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete a Gnats’ 3-2 comeback victory Sunday afternoon. The victory was Savannah’s sixth straight and pulled the Gnats (15-8) into a tie for first place with the Augusta GreenJackets, who lost to the Lexington Legends.

In a 2-2 game in the ninth, Plawecki was hit by a pitch to start the winning rally. The following batter, C Jeffrey Glenn chopped a ball to third. His bat broke on the swing, and the barrel followed the ball’s path toward West Virginia 3B Eric Wood. The bat hit Wood, who could not make the play to put runners at first and second. Frenzel followed with a line drive single to leftfield that scored Plawecki from second with the winning run.

It was the Gnats’ first win in their final turn at bat in 2013.

Frenzel, who had a hand in every Gnats’ run finished 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored.

The Gnats evened the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Frenzel and LF Stefan Sabol singled to start the threat. Frenzel eventually scored the tying run on a fielder’s choice when 2B Jeff Reynolds chopped a ball high off home plate.

The Power (9-15) scored twice against Savannah starter Matt Koch in the first inning. An error and three straight singles led to two runs, only one of which was earned. Koch threw 3.2 innings for the Gnats, allowing only those two runs, one earned on four hits with no walks and a strikeout.

The Savannah bullpen of Tim Peterson, Jake Kuebler and Tyler Vanderheiden combined on 5.1 scoreless winning with five strikeouts. Vanderheider earned the win, his first of 2013 for keeping the Power off the scoreboard in the top of the 9^th.

The Gnats look for their second-straight sweep and a seventh-straight Monday night when RHP Luis Cessa (2-0, 1.02) takes the mound against RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 2.40).

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 1 SB

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 HBP

Cole Frenzel: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Stefan Sabol: 2-for-4

Jeff Reynolds: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Matthew Koch: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K

Jake Kuebler: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 3 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 1 K

(Team Report)

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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)

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Savannah 7, Lakewood 2

A four-hit night from Brandon Nimmo and a four-RBI night from Kevin Plawecki propelled Savannah to a 7-2 victory over Lakewood on Friday night.

Steven Matz was on his game on Friday as he got the start for the Sand Gnats and provided them with five shutout innings. He scattered six hits and a walk while striking out five and was in control throughout the evening. He is sporting a 1.29 ERA so far this season. Tyler Vanderheiden allowed an earned run in an inning of work – and so did Hunter Carnevale, but Beck Wheeler and Bret Mitchell provided a scoreless inning of work each. By the way, Beck Wheeler has yet to allow a baserunner in 6.2 IP so far in Savannah with nine strikeouts.

The real stories of the night were Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Plawecki however, as they continued their torrid hitting in Savannah with yet another great offensive game. I said on many occasions that the NY Penn League was a pitching dominated league and it was important not to worry too much about the offensive stats till they broke out of that area. Lo and behold, their short time in Savannah has resulted in some of the hottest hitting in A-ball right now.

Nimmo ripped four hits, including a triple, while walking once which raised his average to .450. He bounced back after an 0-for-4 ended a streak of sizzling hot offensive performances. Not to be outdone, Kevin Plawecki went 3-for-4, including a home run and a double, (he’s slugging .709) and drove home four runs… I feel a little sense of pride every time that I see Plawecki have a good game because I had such high hopes for him. Savannah had 11 hits as a team and Plawecki and Nimmo combined for seven of them. Nice!

On the heels of a dominant victory for Matt Harvey tonight, time to steal a line… “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades!”

Key Stats

Chad Zurcher: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB

Brandon Nimmo: 4-for-4, 1 3B, 2 R, 1 BB

Kevin Plawecki: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

Jeff Reynolds: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

Steven Matz: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 5 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER

Hunter Carnevale: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Beck Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Bret Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 ER

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