Chris Flexen tosses seven strong innings

Game one of the three game series between the first place Savannah Sand Gnats and the second-place Asheville Tourists was played in front of 2,736 fans Monday evening at Grayson Stadium. The Tourists would edge out the Sand Gnats 2-1 in 10 innings.

Fans saw excellent pitching by both teams, with Sand Gnats starter, Chris Flexen, tossing seven strong innings, while allowing only one run on three hits, walking one, and with 10 strikeouts. He also had a no hitter through five innings.

Asheville’s starter Alex Balog, matched Flexen with seven strong innings of his own, allowing six hits, one run, three walks and four strikeouts.

Asheville scored a run in the 6th inning, when left fielder Max White singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt. White stole third base and then scored on a single by center fielder David Dahl.

Savannah scored their lone run in the 7th inning, when right fielder Victor Cruzado doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Stefan Sabol, batting in the DH spot, then singled to score Cruzado.

In the 10th inning, the Tourists scored a run when White singled again and scored on a triple by shortstop Emerson Jimenez.

Savannah threatened in the 10th with one out, with back to back singles by third baseman Jeff McNeil and second baseman L.J. Mazzilli, but could not push a run across the board and dropped the opener, 2-1.

Game two of the series starts at 7:05pm Tuesday at Grayson Stadium. Savannah leads Ashville by five games in the South Atlantic League Southern Division standings.