Charleston 9, Savannah 7

The final game of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Charleston River Dogs was played Wednesday evening in front of 1,761 fans at Grayson Stadium. Charleston avoided the sweep and won 9-7. Charleston had 10 hits, while Savannah pounded out nine.

In the first inning, Charleston scored a run, but Savannah came right back to score two runs in the bottom of the frame. Savannah took a 4-1 lead in the second inning, courtesy of a Brandon Nimmo double that drove in two runs. Nimmo finished the night going 3-for-5.

Charleston scored three runs in the fifth inning and three more runs in the sixth inning. Greg Bird hit a two-run home run over the right field fence; it was his 17th home run of the season. Savannah tried to mount a comeback in the fifth inning, scoring three runs. Nelfi Zapata accounted for two of those in the inning.

Sand Gnats starting pitcher, Marco Camarena threw five innings, allowing six runs on six hits, two walks, and one strikeout. Tyler Vanderheiden took the loss for Svannah;  he allowed three runs on two hits, one walk, and one strikeout in one inning of work. Wanel  Messa worked three shutout innings, striking out two and walking one.

Savannah begins a new series with the Hickory Crawdads at 7:05 pm Thursday at Grayson Stadium.

Key Stats

Brandon Nimmo: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R

Nelfi Zapata: 1-for-4, 2 RBI

Maikis De La Cruz: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R

Marcos Camarena: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 K

Wanel Mesa: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 2 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 1 K