Catfish Take Pair From Savannah, Earn Series Split, Take Over FirstPlace

The series in Savannah got off to a rough start for the Columbus Catfish, with the Sand Gnats (Mets) winning the first two games. But the series ended pleasantly enough, with the Catfish notching two wins yesterday.

The first game was the conclusion of a suspended game from Monday. Neal Frontz took over for Woods Fines, who had pitched the Monday portion of the game, as the Catfish won 9-3.

With the Catfish on top, 4-3, Frontz (4-4) took the mound when play resumed in the fourth inning on Tuesday. The 23-year-old right-hander yielded four hits and a walk while striking out four in his longest outing of the year.

Desmond Jennings went 3-for-5 and scored the go-ahead run after ripping a leadoff double in the fourth. Nevin Ashley blasted his seventh homer, a two-run shot in the sixth, to pad the lead for Columbus (8-4).

Game two saw the Catfish win big, with Seth Dhaenens leading the way to a 6-1 Catfish win.

The 23-year-old first baseman went 3-for-4 and snapped a 1-1 tie with a base hit to center field in the sixth inning. Dhaenens got the Catfish (8-4) on the board with an RBI single in the fourth and capped a four-run seventh with his third run-scoring single of the night.

Columbus' Jeremy Hellickson (6-2) yielded one run on five hits while striking out six and walking one in seven innings to win for the fourth time in his last six starts. The 20-year-old right hander lowered his ERA to 2.58 and has limited opponents to a .221 average in 12 starts.

With the pair of wins, along with losses by Augusta, Asheville, and Greenville, leaves the Catfish all alone in first place.

Tonight, the Catfish return home to open a short 3-game series with the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees).