Catfish Fall 14-9 in Suspended Game Continuation

Catfish Fall 14-9 in Suspended Game Continuation; Second Game Rained Out
5-0 Lead Evaporates When Savannah Scores 12 in the Third Inning; Rain Forces Doubleheader Saturday at 6:35

SAVANNAH, GA— - An early 5-0 Catfish lead turned into a stinging defeat at the hands of Savannah when the Gnats scored 12 runs in the third inning to beat Columbus 14-9 at Grayson Stadium. The game was a continuation of yesterday's suspended game in which a power failure caused stoppage of play in the top of the third inning. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to heavy rains and wet field conditions at Grayson Stadium, forcing a doubleheader Saturday at 6:35 PM. CF Ryan Carter had three RBI and two hits while RF Sergio Pedroza drove in two runs in a 2-5 performance in the 14-9 loss.  Savannah now holds an 11-10 advantage over the Catfish with three to play in the season series. Columbus falls to 56-69, 28-28 in the second half while Savannah improves to 56-70 overall, 24-34 in the second half.

Yesterday the Catfish jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of the series opener. RF Sergio Pedroza drove in a run with a double to make it 1-0, and CF Ryan Carter drove home a pair with a double to left center to give the Fish a 3-0 lead. With two outs, a 1B Dan Batz double and a C Gabriel Gutierrez triple scored the fourth run, with 2B Justin Crist capping the inning with an RBI single. RHP Chris Malone tossed two solid innings for the Catfish, walking one and striking out two. Today, the game resumed in the third inning.

The Fish went in order in the third against Savannah RHP Somer Gonzalez, but Savannah scored 12 runs on 9 hits in the bottom of the third. LHP Chad Bailey allowed 11 runs (6 earned), as 16 Savannah hitters came to the plate in the third, and at one point 11 straight reached base. Savannah SS Seth Bynum had two RBI singles in the 3rd inning. RHP Jordan Pratt came out of the bullpen to retire the final two hitters of the inning. Tomorrow the Catfish and Sand Gnats will play two seven-inning games starting at 6:35 PM. RHP Nate Hochgesang (1-0, 3.38 ERA) starts for the Catfish in the first game, while RHP Steve Nelson (4-3, 5.15 ERA) is the second game starter.