The storm's winds as of midday Monday are near 45 mph

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Chantal (shahn-TAHL') is racing toward the Lesser Antilles after forming in the Atlantic.

Click here to download our 2013 Storm Guide by savannahnow.com mobile app to keep track of the season's storm activity on-the-go.

The storm's maximum sustained winds early Monday are near 45 mph (72 kph) with some strengthening expected over the next two days.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. A tropical storm watch is in effect for St. Vincent.

Chantal is centered about 550 miles (885 kilometers) east-southeast of Barbados and is moving west near 25 mph (41 kph).

Meanwhile in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Erick is getting closer to the southern portion of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, where a tropical storm warning is in effect. However, it is not expected to make landfall.

Erick's maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (72 kph) with gradual weakening expected to continue over the next two days.

A home on Tybee Island’s south end was severely damaged by fire Monday.

Shortly before noon, firefighters responded to a 911 call at 601 12th St. to find flames coming from the front of residence, said Tybee Fire Chief Skip Sasser. The fire had already spread to the brick and wood home’s second floor.

Tybee firefighters immediately began attacking the blaze. Sasser called in Southside Fire/EMS to because firefighters needed to swap out to avoid overheating.

One Tybee firefighter was put under observation in an ambulance, but is OK, Sasser said.

The two-story home was heavily damaged by flames, smoke and water, and it took about two hours to get the fire knocked out, Sasser said. Tybee police and fire officials will be out Tuesday trying to determine how the blaze began.

Sasser said the home’s owners were across the street at another home they owned, spotted the fire and immediately called 911. One person was staying at the home that caught fire, but no one was injured, Sasser said.

Sasser said that fighting the fire on 12th Street was a team effort, with Southside helping fight the flames. When the alarm initially went out, members of Tybee Ocean Rescue helped prepare firefighters and later helped keep firefighters hydrated. Additionally, some city of Tybee workers who volunteer with the department were allowed to leave their day jobs to help fight the fire, and Tybee police helped as well.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Monday confirmed the state’s first human case of West Nile virus this year. The adult patient from Brantley County was infected in May and recovered without hospitalization or complications, said health department spokeswoman Nancy Nydam.

Most people get West Nile after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Because of this early case and the heavy rain over the past few weeks, the department is urging Georgians to protect themselves against mosquitoes.

“Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that may be infected with West Nile Virus,” said Department of Public Health entomologist Rosmarie Kelly. “In the heat of summer, it can take less than 10 days to go from egg to adult mosquito.”

Residents can reduce the number of mosquitoes around their homes by emptying standing water from containers. The most effective way to avoid West Nile is to prevent mosquito bites and the best way to do that is to observe the “Five D’s of WNV Prevention.”

• Dusk/Dawn — Mosquitoes carrying West Nile usually bite at dusk and dawn, so avoid or limit outdoor activity at these times.

• Dress — Wear loose-fitting, long sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed.

• DEET — Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing the DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.

• Drain — Empty any containers holding standing water because they can be excellent breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

• Doors — Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly, and fix torn or damaged screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.

Symptoms of West Nile include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that usually develop three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The elderly, those with compromised immune systems, or those with other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease.

Of those who become infected with West Nile, most will fight off the virus without any symptoms or will develop less severe West Nile fever. One in 150 people bitten by infected mosquitoes will develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord). Approximately 10 percent of people with a severe form of West Nile infection die from their illness, and others suffer long-term nervous system problems.

People with questions about West Nile should speak to their health care providers or call their county health department, environmental health office.

More information on the virus can be found at the CDC’s site:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Further information on repellents is also available from the CDC: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm

The Department’s surveillance data on the West Nile virus is available on O.A.S.I.S. at http://oasis.state.ga.us/.

John Daly withdrew from the British Open on Monday because he will have surgery on his right elbow this week that will end his PGA Tour season.

Daly said he first noticed something wrong with his right elbow at the Byron Nelson Championship in May, and tests revealed a torn tendon. He said doctors told him he could try to play as long as he didn’t hit a rock or a tree root.

“And that’s what happened on the 12th hole Friday at Greenbrier,” Daly said. “I was just trying to chip out and there was a root under the ball. It wasn’t more than 50-yard chip shot. But that’s the pain I’ve been dealing with.”

He was replaced in the British Open by Stephen Gallacher of Scotland. The Open is July 18-21 at Muirfield.

Daly says he is scheduled for surgery Thursday morning. He said doctors told him he could start rehabilitation in early September, and if everything went well, he could return to golf in the late fall.

This will be the first time Daly, 47, has missed the British Open since 1999 at Carnoustie.

The surgery means he will not play in the only two majors for which Daly is eligible — the British Open and the PGA Championship as a past champion of both. Daly won the 1991 PGA at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate, and he won the Open in 1995 at St. Andrews in a playoff over Costantino Rocca.

“I hate missing the British Open, especially at Muirfield. It’s one of the best on the planet,” Daly said.

Daly has not had a full PGA Tour card since 2006.

A year ago, he put together three finishes in the top 20 — including a tie for fifth in the Reno-Tahoe Open — during a stretch of seven straight tournaments.

He had a chance of earning his card until an 86-77 on the weekend at Las Vegas and missed cuts in his last two events.

He finished 146th on the money list, his highest position since 2005.

“What really (stinks) about this is that I was getting ready to play seven in a row, and that’s when I played my best golf last year,” Daly said. “My goal was to get into those four qualifying tournaments at the end of the year.”

A midafternoon house fire at 1330 New Castle St. in Savannah on Monday afternoon displaced one adult and four children.

The children ranged from ages 5 to 14, and the home suffered major damage in the kitchen area, said Robin Wingate, executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Georgia chapter.

Wingate said that the family did not have insurance, and volunteers meet emergency needs by providing them with funding for food and temporary shelter.

Savannah Fire & Emergency Services spokesman Mark Keller said the fire started in the home’s dryer. The fire burned a portion of the rear of the house, and power had to be cut. Firefighters were able to get the incident under control quickly, he said.

Savannah Fire reminds residents to be mindful of cleaning lent traps in dryers. Keller said it’s also important to clear ventilation tubing a few times a year and ensure that appliances are in working order. Those using gas dryers, he said, should make sure no combustible materials are near the appliance.

Savannah-Chatham police have closed Montgomery Crossroad to traffic between Sallie Mood Drive and Truman Parkway after a one-vehicle accident caused a power line to fall across the street.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to a local hopsital with undetermined injuries.

Traffic is being diverted from the area until utility crews can repair the damage. Drivers are advised to seek other routes.

A middle-aged man was hospitalized Monday night after a confrontation with police in Pooler.

At about 8 p.m., officers responded to calls of an agitated person in a home in the 100 block of Chinese Fir Court, off Godley Station Boulevard. Once officers arrived on scene, they attempted to make contact, but the man discharged a weapon at them from inside the house, said Pooler Police Chief Mark Revenew late Monday.

Officers retreated and surrounded the area, he said. Officers from the Garden City, Bloomingdale and Port Wentworth police departments and the Georgia State Patrol came to the scene to assist Pooler police.

Revenew said the man came out of the house holding a firearm in an aggressive manner, and a Pooler officer “took enforcement action.”

Revenew declined to elaborate on what kind of action police took, saying that the scene was being turned over to the GBI.

The man, whose identity was not released, was taken to Memorial University Medical Center. Revenew said he could not comment on the extent of the man’s injuries. No officers were harmed.

The man was alone inside the home when the incident occurred, Revenew said.

Revenew said that GBI was taking over the investigation, and more information would be released Tuesday.

No further information was available late Monday night.

—Dash Coleman

Businesses at the Medical Arts shopping center recently reopened after support poles were installed out front to shore up facade sections of the building.

The additional support was recommended after the overhang above the entrance to the CVS pharmacy collapsed on June 28.

A report by Saussy Engineering found that the 2.5-inch nails used to connect to a two-by-four at the edge of the roof had provided an inadequate support for the facade and had withdrawn before the collapse.

The shopping center had many additions since it was originally constructed about 60 years ago. A section running from the north end of The Savannah Bank to the south end of Jersey’s Pizza was constructed similar to the CVS store, and temporary supports have since been installed to prevent another collapse.

The sidewalk along the south end of the building has also been closed off at the recommendation of the engineer, who found a roof leak had compromised the section’s structural integrity.

J. Curtis Lewis III, president of Lewis Broadcasting Corp., said his company has not done any construction on the building that could have caused the collapse since it purchased it about 15 years ago. The insurance company was investigating the incident to find out who or what may be at fault, Lewis said.

“We’re still trying to figure out the details,” he said.

In 2007, CVS contracted for an exterior renovation of the storefront, according to spokesman Mike DeAngelis. DeAngelis said the contractor hired for the job is not involved in any of the company’s new-store construction, including a store being built at Abercorn Street and DeRenne Avenue.

Angie Vlahos was treated and released at Memorial University Medical Center after suffering injuries to her hand and head from the falling facade, according to a Savannah-Chatham County police report. Four vehicles parked in front of the building also suffered extensive damage.

MIAMI — Justin Upton broke a tie by driving in two runs when he doubled in a six-run 14th inning for Atlanta’s first hit since the sixth, and the Braves beat the Miami Marlins 7-1 Monday night.

Five Miami relievers combined to retire 24 consecutive batters before Reed Johnson walked to start the 14th against Chris Hatcher (0-1). Jason Heyward walked with one out, and Upton’s double scored both runners.

Gerald Laird hit a two-out, two-run single. Chris Johnson added an RBI single with the bases loaded, and another run scored when the ball skipped past left fielder Justin Ruggiano for an error.

Seven relievers for the two teams combined to retire 30 straight batters from the eighth to the 13th. David Carpenter (2-0) pitched two innings and escaped a jam in the 13th.

The Braves earned their 26th comeback victory, most in the NL. They improved to 11-2 in two years at Marlins Park.

The Marlins fell to 0-13 this season when their retractable roof is open — sort of. On a balmy 86-degree night, the game began with the roof open, but it was closed in the seventh inning when rain moved into the area.

Miami stranded 12 and went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position. The Marlins’ first two batters reached in the 13th, but Logan Morrison grounded into a double play and Adeiny Hechavarria popped out.

Atlanta’s Mike Minor allowed six hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out Jeff Mathis on a 3-2 fastball with the bases loaded to end the sixth and keep the score tied.

In the seventh, Miami stole three bases — two on a double steal — and still couldn’t score. In the ninth, Heyward made a leaping catch at the 392-foot sign in right field to rob Ruggiano of an extra-base hit.

Ruggiano hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth for the Marlins’ only run.

Four pitchers cooled off the Braves’ Brian McCann, who went 0 for 5. He was batting .512 over the previous 11 games.

Kevin Slowey, making his first start since June 12 for Miami, pitched five shutout innings before departing for a pinch hitter after throwing only 69 pitches. Slowey took the spot in the rotation vacated when Ricky Nolasco was traded Saturday to the Dodgers. Marlins starters have allowed fewer than four runs in 19 of the past 21 games.

Dan Jennings followed Slowey to the mound, and the Marlins’ 1-0 lead was gone two batters later. Heyward hit his first triple of the season and scored on a sacrifice fly by Upton.

Notes

Braves RHP Brandon Beachy (elbow) will make a rehab start today for Triple-A Gwinnett, his first game since his rehab assignment was shut down last month because of inflammation. ... B.J. Upton went hitless and is 1 for 21 (.048) against the Marlins this year. ... Morrison is 2 for 17 this season with runners in scoring position.

24-hour jail bookings for Savannah-Chatham County are now posted. Visit booked.savannahnow.com to view photos and information.

All information has been obtained from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department.

All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty.

Savannah-Chatham Metro police will be operating radar hot spots along Bay Street west of MLK Blvd.

If you're on the hunt for a new furry friend, click here to see what pups are available at Savannah Animal Control.

Savannah-Chatham homicide detectives are investigating the shooting death of a 19-year-old Savannah man early this morning.

Antwan Rivers of the 200 block of Hampstead Avenue was found dead on the sidewalk on the 1100 block of East 38th Street by residents alerted by gunshots at 1:22 a.m., police said

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Return to savannahnow.com or the Savannah Morning News for updates.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Georgia girl has died after being pulled from the waters off the Florida Panhandle.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office says 13-year-old Jade McCallister was visiting Panama City Beach with a group from her church in Morganton, Ga.

Bystanders pulled the girl from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday afternoon. Deputies attempted to revive her at the scene, but she was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The sheriff's office says the medical examiner will perform an autopsy.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

The Savannah-Chatham Public School Board will hold its regular monthly meetings Wednesday to discuss summer school programs, charter schools and testing. The board will also vote on bids for goods and services.

Superintendent Thomas Lockamy is recommending that the board deny a petition for an all-male charter school. He is also recommending that $2,134,571 in contracts for ESPLOST II-funded work at four schools be awarded to a single contractor – James W. Buckley and Associates.

The meetings take place at the Eli Whitney Administrative Complex, located at 2 Laura Avenue. The informal sessions begins at 1 p.m. The regular meeting starts at 3 p.m.

The full agenda is available online at http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/sccs/Board.nsf/Public

Airframe parts supplier LMI Aerospace’s recent acquisition of a related company will mean 100 new jobs and the second expansion of LMI’s local facility in less than a year.

LMI and the Savannah Economic Development Authority made the announcement Tuesday following a SEDA board vote to grant LMI a $125,000 cash incentive toward the expansion. The project will boost LMI’s presence at its Coleman Boulevard facility to 161,000 square feet and 155 employees.

“Our work force continues to grow, and we are pleased with not only the available plant space, but also the high quality of the workers who have joined us and the support of both the city of Savannah and the state of Georgia,” LMI CEO Ronald S. Saks said. “We consider ourselves fortunate that the aerospace industry continues to grow, and we intend to offer our Savannah products and services as a valued supplier to our customers.”

Missouri-base LMI opened its Savannah facility in 2003 and produces specialty airframe parts for riveting, machined parts and assemblies for Gulfstream as well as kits and assemblies for Boeing’s plants in Seattle, Wash. and Charleston, S.C.

In December, LMI completed its acquisition of Valent Aerostructures, which makes complex structural components, sub-assemblies and machined parts for Boeing, Gulfstream, Cessna and several defense contractors. Most of the work tied to LMI’s Savannah expansion will be for parts and structures previously produced by Valent.

SEDA courted Valent Aerostructures to Savannah prior to the company’s acquisition by LMI. Based in Kansas City with locations in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, Valent was looking to open a facility in the Lowcountry to be closer to Gulfstream’s Savannah home and Boeing’s Charleston facility.

Valent was “close” to committing to Savannah, according to SEDA’s Brandt Herndon, when the company broke off communications. SEDA would later learn LMI was negotiating the purchase for Valent, shifting the focus from a new facility for Valent to an expansion for LMI.

“This was what Valent was going to do here,” Herndon said. “The 100 jobs are new hires, not a relocation, and reflect the contract work Valent had lined up for Boeing and Gulfstream.”

LMI has already leased an additional 50,000 square feet of space for its expansion.

The middle-aged man accused of shooting at police officers from inside a Pooler home Monday evening died after a responding officer shot him when he stepped outside the building and raised his weapon, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Catherine Sapp, special agent in charge of the GBI's Statesboro office, said a Pooler police officer shot Lance Clay Monday night after a "relatively short" standoff with responding police officers from various agencies at the home in the 100 block of Chinese Fir Court, off Godley Station Boulevard.

"Mr. Clay was having issues and he brandished a weapon and the police were forced to take measures to stop that confrontation," Sapp said.

The GBI took over the investigation into the incident that Pooler police Chief Mark Revenew said began about 8 p.m. when his officers responded to a call of an agitated person. The suspect, Clay, was alone inside the house during the incident, the chief said. Officers from Garden City, Bloomingdale and Port Wentworth and Georgia State Patrol troopers also responded.

Clay was taken to Memorial University Medical Center after he was shot, Sapp said, he died there. The GBI performed an autopsy this morning, she added.

Investigating agents, Sapp said, have determined what led to Clay's standoff with police, but she said she would not immediately release that.

The GBI, she said, is typically called in to investigate incidents similar to the Monday night police-involved shooting in Pooler.

"Basically we are an outside entity to examine the case," Sapp said. "Our job is not to judge right or wrong, it's to gather information as an unbiased agency."

Sapp said information gathered during the investigation would be turned over to the Chatham County District Attorney's Office, who would decide if further action, such as filing charges, is required in the case.

Armstrong Atlantic State athletic director Lisa Sweany had plenty of worthy candidates in her search for a new women’s basketball coach.

But Fala Bullock stood out with her NCAA Division II experience as a player and coach and her familiarity with the Peach Belt Conference.

Bullock, a native of Southern California, played at Irvine Valley Junior College for two years before signing with Northeastern State University, a Division II program in Oklahoma.

For the last two seasons, Bullock was the head coach at Central Georgia Technical College, a junior college program in Macon. Prior to that, she served as an assistant coach at Columbus State, a Peach Belt Conference rival of Armstrong, for two seasons.

“Fala has been around Division II as a player and a coach and that meant a lot to us because Division II is the heart and soul of what we are all about here,” Sweany said. “And Fala is no stranger to the Peach Belt Conference, she has the experience and that was important to us. She’ll have some tricks up her sleeve on how to play against conference opponents.”

Bullock, 32, was a point guard in her playing days. She said her teams play a blue collar style of basketball.

“We don’t do any frilly stuff,” Bullock said. “I like to get the right kids — hard workers who like to play defense.”

At Central Georgia Tech, Bullock’s team finished 13-16 in her first year, and improved to 25-6 last season as the team advanced to the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

Bullock said she will have a close relationship with her guards.

“That’s definitely going to be personal for me — I feel like our point guard will be a direct extension of me,” Bullock said. “I want them to be like player/coaches on the floor.”

Bullock takes over for Matt Schmidt, who left Armstrong to take a job at Duquesne. Schmidt compiled a 60-73 record over five years, including a 13-14 mark last season.

Bullock said she is excited to get started and is looking forward to working with senior forward Mauri Wells, who averaged 8.7 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds while earning all-conference honors last season.

“I think she will set the tone for our offense,” Bullock said. “We’re going to rely heavily on our defense to get our transition offense going.”

Bullock said being close to the ocean was a big selling point for her, being from California. She and her husband, Dermayne Bullock, who also played Division II college ball, have already been out to Tybee Island.

“This is a great opportunity for me to come back to one of the best basketball conferences in the nation,” Bullock said. “The Peach Belt Conference always has several teams in the top 25. My husband and I don’t have a family yet, so the girls on the team are going to be near and dear to our hearts. We’re going to take a family approach with the team.”

MIAMI — Justin Upton homered, doubled twice and scored three runs to help the Atlanta Braves earn their 27th comeback victory when they beat the Miami Marlins 6-4 Tuesday night.

The Braves overcame deficits of 3-1 and 4-3. They lead the NL in come-from-behind wins.

Pitchers for the two teams combined to retire 30 consecutive batters Monday, when Atlanta won 7-1 in 14 innings. The second game of the series was a slugfest by comparison, with Upton leading the way.

He doubled home a run in the third, doubled and scored to make it 4-all in the fifth, then hit his 16th home run — but first since June 12 — leading off the seventh against reliever Ryan Webb.

In Monday’s marathon, Upton hit a two-run double to put Atlanta ahead in the final inning.

Julio Teheran (7-4) allowed one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save in 27 chances, and Atlanta improved to 12-2 at Marlins Park since it opened in 2012.

Brian McCann had a sacrifice fly and an RBI single for the Braves. B.J. Upton raised his average to .178 with two hits and was robbed of an RBI single on a leaping grab by third baseman Ed Lucas.

The Marlins, who have the NL’s worst record, lost their fifth game in a row.

Henderson Alvarez (0-1) allowed five runs, four earned, in six innings. The start was his second after he missed the first three months of the season because of shoulder inflammation.

An unearned run put Atlanta ahead to stay in the sixth. Alvarez fielded Teheran’s swinging bunt and threw wildly past first for an error, allowing B.J. Upton to score from second base.

Miami’s Rob Brantly hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot with two outs in the second. The runs were all unearned because they scored following a one-out error by third baseman Chris Johnson.

The Braves went ahead in the second when Freddie Freeman led off with a double, advanced on a groundout and scored on B.J. Upton’s sacrifice fly. That was Upton’s 20th RBI in 266 at-bats.

Brantly pulled a homer just inside the right-field foul pole in the second to put Miami ahead 3-1. Atlanta tied the score in the third on an RBI double by Justin Upton and a sacrifice fly by McCann.

Miami regained the lead in the third on an RBI single by Logan Morrison, who had been 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position. The Braves made it 4-all in the fifth when Justin Upton doubled and scored on McCann’s single.

Teheran picked Morrison off second base in the second. The right-hander has seven pickoffs, most in the majors.

Marlins rookie center fielder Marcell Ozuna threw out Johnson trying to score on a flyout in the fourth inning. The assist was the eighth for Ozuna, one off the major league lead for outfielders.

Notes

Braves RHP Brandon Beachy (elbow) allowed three hits and two runs in three innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett against Norfolk. ... Before the game, the Marlins recalled LHP Duane Below from Triple-A New Orleans. ... The retractable roof was closed after being open at the start of Monday’s game. ... Campaigning for Freeman, an All-Star game candidate as one of the final NL five, Braves players wore T-shirts before the game that read, “Hug for votes #VoteFreddie.”

Savannah Sand Gnat starter Gabriel Ynoa got back to his winning ways Tuesday night, pitching another great game as he earned his 10th win of the season in the Gnats’ 8-1 victory over visiting Augusta.

Ynoa, who was selected for the South Atlantic League All-Star game last month, saw his streak of eight consecutive winning decisions end in his last start, a loss to Hickory last week. But the right-hander from the Dominican Republic didn’t waste any time getting back in the winner’s circle. He was perfect through the first three frames and ended up scattering six hits through 6 2/3 innings without allowing a run. He struck out five and walked just one batter as he improved to 10-3 this season.

The Gnats gave Ynoa all the support he would need in the bottom of the first by scoring three runs. Chad Zurcher and Brandon Nimmo led off the inning with walks, and Maikis De La Cruz followed with an infield single to load the bases.

Cole Frenzel walked to drive in a run and Eudy Pina hit a sacrifice fly to left to put Savannah up 2-0. Jeff Reynolds followed with a bunt single to score De La Cruz and make it 3-0.

Pina hit a shot over the left-field wall in the third for his ninth home run of the season. In the fourth, Zurcher singled, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a double to left by De La Cruz (3 for 5).

In the sixth Zurcher led off with a walk and scored on a two-out triple to right by Frenzel (2 for 4 with 3 RBIs) to put the Gnats up 6-0.

The Gnats added two more in the eighth when Nimmo was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by De La Cruz. Frenzel brought Nimmo in to score with a single to right field, and De La Cruz moved to third on a throwing error. Pina’s groundout brought De La Cruz home with Savannah’s final run of the game. Pina drove in three runs.

The Gnats, who had 13 hits and no errors on the night, improved to 51-36 overall and 8-10 in the second half with the win. Savannah will host Augusta at 7:05 tonight in the second game of their three-game series. It’s a Pack-the-Park Wednesday with tickets purchased directly through the Alee Shriners donated to their charity.

SAND GNATS 8, GREENJACKETS 1

Augusta ab r h bi Savannah ab r h bi

Galindo cf 5 0 1 0 Zurcher 2b 3 3 1 0

Brown 2b 5 1 2 0 Nimmo cf 3 2 1 0

Duffy ss 4 0 2 0 MDlacruz lf 5 2 3 1

Turner c 4 0 0 0 Frenzel 1b 4 0 2 3

Delfino 3b 4 0 2 0 Pina rf 4 1 1 3

Houck dh 3 0 1 0 Reynolds 3b 4 0 2 1

Rapp 1b 3 0 1 0 Evans ss 4 0 1 0

Rodriguez lf 4 0 0 0 Glenn dh 4 0 1 0

Cain rf 3 0 0 0 Cordero c 4 0 1 0

Totals 35 1 9 0 Totals 35 8 13 8

Augusta 000 000 010—1

Savannah 301 101 02x—8

E—Cain. DP—Savannah 1, Augusta 1. LOB—Savannah 10, Augusta 10 2B—Brown, Delfino, De La Cruz. 3B—Frenzel. HR—Pina (9). SF—Pina. SB—Galindo 2.

AUGUSTA IP H R ER BB SO

Biagini(L, 6-3) 4 8 5 5 3 3

Schumer 2 3 1 1 1 2

Gardeck 1 0 0 0 1 2

Mizenko 1 2 2 1 0 2

SAVANNAH IP H R ER BB SO

Ynoa(W, 10-3) 6.2 6 0 0 1 5

Morel .1 0 0 0 0 0

Vnderheiden .2 3 1 1 2 0

Wheeler 1.1 0 0 0 0 2

HBP—Nimmo (by Mizenko). T—2:45. A—1,297.