The Savannah Sand Gnats split a doubleheader with Charleston on Tuesday thanks to a complete game 1-0 shutout by Miller Diaz in the nightcap. Charleston won the first game 6-2.
Diaz, a 22-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, gave up a hit to the RiverDogs’ first batter of the game — Michael O’Neill. But he kept Charleston quiet after that, not allowing a hit until he allowed a pair of singles in the top of the seventh. It was the first complete game of Diaz’ career.
With the tying run at second, Diaz finished off the RiverDogs by striking out Gosuke Katoh. Diaz struck out five, walked two and allowed three hits while improving his record to 6-1 and lowering his ERA to 2.14.
The Gnats broke through for a run in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Oberste led off with a single to center, and Nelfi Zapata had a base hit to left to move Oberste to second. Later in the inning, Colton Plaia drove in Zapata with a single to left.
Charleston won the first game 6-2. Savannah starter Alex Panteliodis had a solid outing — scattering eight hits and allowing two runs (one earned) over six innings of work. He struck out five and walked two.
Oberste gave the Gnats a chance when he drilled a solo shot over the wall in left field in the sixth inning for his eighth home run of the year. That tied up the game at 2-2.
But Charleston plated four runs in the top of the seventh off Savannah reliever Hunter Carnevale to put the game away. Doubles by Tyler Wade and Miguel Andujar got the rally started, and Mike Ford extended it with a run-scoring triple. Carnevale was tagged with his first loss of the season, as his ERA rose to 6.27.
The Gnats and RiverDogs will play another doubleheader today, with first pitch set for 5:05 p.m.
GAME 1
Charleston ab r h bi Savannah ab r h bi
Avelino ss 3 1 0 0 Ruiz ss 3 0 0 0
Wade dh 4 1 1 1 Stuart cf 3 1 1 0
Fowler rf 4 0 1 0 Smith 1b 3 0 0 0
Andujar 3b 4 2 3 1 Oberste dh 3 1 2 1
Ford 1b 3 1 2 1 Zapata 3b 3 0 0 1
O’Neill cf 2 1 2 2 Rivero 2b 3 0 0 0
Katoh 2b 4 0 1 0 Biondi rf 3 0 0 0
Sumner c 2 0 0 0 Glenn c 3 0 0 0
Thomas lf 3 0 1 0 Sabol lf 0 0 0 0
Totals 29 6 11 5
Totals 24 2 3 2
Charleston 010 100 4 — 6
Savannah 000 101 0 — 2
E—Glenn. LOB—Charleston 7 , Savannah 3. 2B—Andujar 2, Wade. 3B-Ford. HR—Oberste (8). SF—O’Neill 2. SB—O’Neill, Wade.
CHARLESTON IP H R ER BB SO
Beresford 3 0 0 0 1 1
Taylor(W,3-2) 3 3 2 2 1 0
Lopez 1 0 0 0 0 1
SAVANNAH IP H R ER BB SO
Panteliodis 6 8 2 1 2 5
Carnevale(L, 3-1) 1 3 4 4 1 2
WP—Panteliodis 2. T—2:11.
GAME 2
Charleston ab r h bi Savannah ab r h bi
O’Neill cf 3 0 1 0 Biondi lf 2 0 0 0
Wade ss 3 0 0 0 Stuart cf 3 0 0 0
Fowler rf 3 0 0 0 Smith 1b 2 0 0 0
Andujar 3b 2 0 0 0 Oberste 1b 1 0 1 0
Ford dh 3 0 1 0 Zapata 3b 3 1 1 0
Thomas pr 0 0 0 0 Leroux dh 3 0 0 0
Valera 1b 3 0 1 0 Rivero ss 2 0 1 0
Katoh 2b 2 0 0 0 Plaia c 3 0 2 1
de Oleo c 2 0 0 0 Johnson 2b 1 0 1 0
Calderon lf 1 0 0 0 Sabol rf 3 0 0 0
Totals 22 0 3 0 Totals 23 1 6 1
Charleston 000 000 0 — 0
Savannah 000 001 x — 1
E—Kamplain. DP—Savannah 1. LOB—Charleston 4, Savannah 8. SAC—Biondi. CS—O’Neill
CHARLESTON IP H R ER BB SO
Kamplain 4 2 0 0 0 4
Rincon(L,3-3) 2 4 1 1 2 3
SAVANNAH IP H R ER BB SO
Diaz(W,6-1) 7 3 0 0 2 5
HBP—Andujar (by Diaz), Johnson(by Rincon). T—1:56. Att—1,022.