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Sabol’s Homer Helps Salvage Split Of Twin Bill For Sand Gnats

By Former Writers

June 9, 2013 No comments

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Savannah 4, Rome 1 (Box)

Rome 3, Savannah 0 (Box)

Stefan Sabol’s sixth homer of the season — a three-run shot in the fourth — provided all of the offense the Savannah Sand Gnats needed to win the opener of a doubleheader Saturday, 4-1 over the host Rome Braves.

Later, Rome (33-28) won the nightcap 3-0 as pitchers Wes Parsons (2-2) and Shae Simmons (17th save) combined for the seven-inning, three-hit shutout of the Sand Gnats (37-24).

In the opener, Savannah took a 3-0 lead in the fourth of a seven-inning contest. Brandon Nimmo led off with a single and Kevin Plawecki walked one out later. Sabol followed with a home run to left. Rome starter Frank Lafreniere hit the next batter, Greg Pron, but retired the next two Gnats to get out of the inning.

Rome notched a run in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Josh Elander singled to right. Savannah starter Jake Kuebler (1-2) hit Trenton Moses with a pitch, then Levi Hyams singled to load the bases. Carlos Franco’s sacrifice fly scored Elander, but that’s all Rome got as Kuebler fanned Casey Kalensoky for his second strikeout of the inning.

The Gnats went up 4-1 in the sixth. Jayce Boyd led off with a single, and Plawecki reached on a fielder’s choice. Sabol singled to center, and one out later, Jeff Reynolds drove in Plawecki.

Kuebler allowed three hits, one run and one walk with four strikeouts in five innings in recording his first victory. Paul Sewald earned his second save with two shutout innings.

In the nightcap, Rome’s Trenton Moses hit a two-run homer in the first inning after Eric Garcia’s leadoff walk, and Garcia added an RBI single after Felix Marte led off the Rome half of the fifth with a triple off reliever Julian Hilario.

Starter Steven Matz (2-3) took the loss for Savannah after allowing three hits and two runs in four innings.

Key Stats

Stefan Sabol: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R

Brandon Nimmo: 2-for-6, 1 R

Steven Matz: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 ER, 1 K

Julian Hilario: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Jake Kuebler: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 K

Paul Sewald: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K

(Team Report)