Game 2 vs. Lancaster Barnstormers

With the road losing streak stopped last night, the Skeeters took to the field looking to get the road winning streak started. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts extended his consecutive game hit streak to 9 games in the 1st inning with a single but was stranded on 2nd base. Derrick Gordon got the start for the Skeeters and held the Barnstormers scoreless in the 1st inning...keeping the score 0-0. In the 2nd inning, after a Drew Locke single, Jimmy Van Ostrand jacked his first home run of the season to make the score 2-0 for the Skeeters, that also gave Van Ostrand a 3 game consecutive hit streak. Gordon again held the Barnstormers scoreless making the score 2-0 after 2 innings. Josh Pressley doubled in the 3rd inning but was stranded on 2nd base. The Barnstormers finally figured Gordon out in the bottom half of the 3rd inning...sending 7 batters to the plate and scoring 3 runs making the score 2-3 after 3 innings. In the 4th inning, Van Ostrand reached 1st base thanks to an error on the short stop. The next batter for the Skeeters, Octavio Martinez, singled giving the Skeeters 2 base runners. That, unfortunately, was where it ended as the next batter, Deybis Benitez, hit into a 1-5-4 double play and Bubba Bell grounded out to the 1st baseman. The Barnstormers were able to tack on another run after sending 5 batters to the plate...making the score 2-4 after 4 innings. The 5th inning was uneventful for both teams as they went 3 up...3 down for both teams. The Skeeters bats came alive in the 6th inning giving the fans listening something to cheer about. After Ben Harrison was plunked in the chest, Drew Locke singled giving the Skeeters 2 runners. Jimmy Van Ostrand came to the plate with the chance to add onto his RBI total and did just that hitting a double and scoring 2 runners. Octavio Martinez singled, once again giving the Skeeters 2 base runners. The hot bats then cooled off quickly as Deybis Benitez hit into the all-to-familiar 6-4-3 double play, making that 2 plate appearances in a row for him to hit into a double play. Bubba Bell then grounded out once again to end the rally. Duniesky Flores came in to relieve Gordon and began to struggle against the Barnstormers immediately as he gave up a 1-run home run to the very first batter he faced. After giving up a single to the 2nd batter he faced, Flores settled down to get 2 consecutive outs. The next batter, however, tripled off the outfield wall scoring another run for the Barnstormers. Thankfully, the inning was ended on a ground out to the first base but the damage was done...the score was 4-6 after 6 innings. The 7th inning saw Jason "BIG MAN" Botts get a 1 out single but the Skeeters went 3 up...3 down when Pressley hit into the inning ending 4-6-3 double play. Although he struggled in the bottom of the 6th, Duniesky Flores took to the mound for the Skeeters. After a quick 2 outs on 3 pitches, Flores gave up 2 singles but finally ended the inning with a pop-up to the 2nd baseman, keeping the score 4-6 after 7 innings. Ben Harrison started the 8th inning for the Skeeters by singling to LF giving Drew Locke the chance to tie the game with one swing. Locke delivered a single and thanks to  a throwing error, Harrison advanced to 3rd base. Van Ostrand reached first base on a fielders choice, Locke thrown out at 2nd, and scored Harrison for the Skeeters' 5th run...all runs credited to Van Ostrand. Van Ostrand was able to advance to 2nd base on a wild pitch. The following 2 batters for the Skeeters were unable to produce anymore runs and stranded Van Ostrand at 2nd base making the score 5-6. Flores once again came back out to the mound even though Majewski was said to be warming up in the bull-pen for the Skeeters. Gaetti's gamble paid off though as Flores faced 2 batters and sat them down before being pulled and relieved by Majewski. He came in and retired the final batter of the inning, keeping the score 5-6 after 8 innings. With just 3 outs remaining, Bell, Marcos Cabral, & Botts looked to get back into the game and either tie or take the lead. Bell struck out looking to give the Skeeters 2 outs to go. Cabral  grounded out making it 2 outs. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts flew out to LF on the first pitch ending the game. The final score was 5-6, Barnstormers win...

With that loss, the Somerset Patriots take sole possession of the Freedom Division lead with a 5-4 record. The Skeeters and Barnstormers share 2nd in the division with 4-5 records.

The 3rd, and final game of this series, is set to begin at 5:05 pm CDT on Sunday. Matt Wright, the former Barnstormer, gets the start for the Skeeters.