Savannah 5, Asheville 1

Gabriel Ynoa improved to 12-4, scattering seven hits and allowing one run over six innings, as the Savannah Sand Gnats defeated the host Tourists 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Ynoa (2.95 earned-run average) walked one and struck out four. Relievers Tyler Vanderheiden, Shawn Teufel and Beck Wheeler each pitched a single inning and combined for one walk and four strikeouts.

The Sand Gnats (61-43) totaled 11 hits, while Asheville (54-52) had eight. Tourists starter Jayson Aquino (0-4, 3.90 ERA) allowed four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings in taking the loss.

Savannah opened the scoring in the second inning, as Cole Frenzel’s RBI double followed leadoff singles by Brian Harrison and Eudy Pina (3 for 4, two runs, one RBI). Pina scored on a fielder’s choice which erased Frenzel.

Asheville cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Francisco Sosa led off with the first of his three doubles, took third on a groundout, and scored on another groundout.

The Gnats’ advantage became 3-1 in the third. Maikis De La Cruz singled with one out and advanced to second on third baseman Jason Stolz’s throwing error. After a second out, De La Cruz took third on a passed ball and scored on Pina’s single grounded to the pitcher.

Savannah added to the lead in the seventh. Albert Cordero singled with two outs, leading to the Aquino’s exit. Reliever Trent Blank walked Dimas Ponce, then saw Cordero and Ponce pull off a double steal. Jorge Rivero singled home Cordero. Brandon Nimmo walked to load the bases, but Blank struck out De La Cruz for the final out.

In the eighth, Raul Fernandez replaced Blank and yielded Pina’s one-out double, a groundout and Jeff Reynolds’ RBI single for 5-1. Five different Sand Gnats batters drove in runs.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R

Cole Frenzel: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Dimas Ponce: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 1 SB

Albert Cordero: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB

Gabriel Ynoa: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 K

Beck Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 2 K

(Team Report)