Augusta 4, Savannah 1

GreenJackets slugger Adam Duvall smacked a tie-breaking three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Augusta GreenJackets a 4-1 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats in the first game of the best-of-three South Atlantic League Southern Division Championship Series. After an off-day Thursday, the series shifts to Savannah for game two on Friday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. Facing elimination, the first half champion Gnats will need to win Friday night to force a winner take-all game three Saturday at 6:05 pm.



The Gnats scored the game’s first run in the fifth inning. First baseman Joe Bonfe triple to leftfield to begin the inning, and third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez ground out to third base to bring home Bonfe for a 1-0 Savannah lead.

Savannah starter Angel Cuan made the 1-0 lead hold up through his six shutout innings. Cuan yielded six hits, all singles, in his six innings and did not walk a batter, but the bullpen could not hold the Gnats’ slim advantage.



The GreenJackets began their game-winning rally with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh against Savannah reliever Chase Huchingson. The top two hitters in the ‘Jackets order, shortstop Bobby Haney and centerfielder Chris Lofton drew walks to put runners at first and second. Third baseman Joel Weeks then singled up the middle to bring home Haney, evening the game at 1-1. Duvall followed with his three-run home run on a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield wall.



The Gnats offense attempted a comeback, getting the tying run to the plate in the top of the eighth, but the GreenJackets’ bullpen kept Savannah off the scoreboard. Augusta reliever Jose Valdez who picked up the final two outs of the top of the seventh inning earned the win. GreenJackets’ starter Mike Kickham held the Gnats to one run on four hits in 6.1 innings.



The Gnats are scheduled to send the South Atlantic League’s regular season ERA champion Taylor Whitenton (5-5, 2.49) to the mound Friday night against RHP Shawn Sanford (10-10, 2.55) who finished second in the League in ERA. First pitch will be 7:05; gates open at 6 pm. The radio broadcast on News/Talk 630 and sandgnats.com will begin at 6:50 pm.