Game 2 vs. Long Island Ducks

After a thrilling 9th inning victory with 2 outs Friday night, the Skeeters looked to get 2 in a row in the "W" column. Gaetti sent Ryan McKeller to the mound, even though he has been credited with 2 losses in 2 starts. The Skeeters faced Mike Loree, last year's Pitcher of the Year for the ALPB, for the first time this season.

1st inning - McKeller started shaky as he sent the first batter to 1st plate after plunking him with the ball. He promptly redeemed himself by pitching into a DP for the first 2 outs. The next batter singled and McKeller walked the 4th batter before retiring the side with a strike out. The Skeeters came out with Bell, Locke, and Botts but got nothing done...going 3 up & 3 down. The score was 0-0.

2nd inning - With just 2 pitches, McKeller got the 1st out with a fly out to RF. He then walked the next 2 batters in order. In an attempt at a double steal, the 2nd out came on a caught stealing at 2nd base, no play made at 3rd base. After the play, Cabral was taken out of the game with a towel wrapped around his hand, the initial thought was that he took a cleat to the hand and cut his fingers open. Victor Gutierrez came in to play 2nd base. McKeller then plunked his 2nd batter of the game, in as many innings, with the pitch, putting runners on the corners...2 outs. McKeller then gave up a deep double that resulted in 2 runs being scored. The 3rd out came with the second caught stealing of the inning as they tried to steal 3rd. The first 2 batters, Pressley & Van Ostrand went down in order for the first 2 outs. Castro stepped in hoping to continue his hot streak he started last night and did just that by firing a shot right back up the middle to reach 1st base. Harrison ended the inning with a fly out to the 3rd baseman, leaving Castro on base. The score was 2-0.

3rd inning - After facing 5 batters in each of the first 2 innings, Gaetti sent McKeller back out to the mound. He then walked the 1st batter, the 4 of the game. McKeller again faced 5 batters and allowed another single but was able to hold the Ducks scoreless, leaving 2 runners on base, 4 for the game so far. The first 2 batters for the Skeeters grounded out to the 3rd baseman. Bell slapped a double to end hit slump, that was his 4th double of the season. Locke was the hit by the pitch to give Jason "BIG MAN" Botts a chance to impress the big league scouts on hand...but he flew out to LF, leaving 2 runners on base, 3 runners LOB for the game. The score remained 2-0.

4th inning - McKeller again came out to pitch for the 4th inning...and for the 4th inning in a row, faced 5 batters. This time, however, he did not finish the inning. After a strike out to the lead off batter, McKeller walked the batter, his 5th of the game, and gave up a triple which scored the 3rd run for the Ducks. He then got the 2nd out with a fly out but walked his 6th batter of the game...prompting Gaetti to pull him and bring in Trey Rackel. With runners on the corners, Rackel walked the batter to load the bases, the 7th walked batter for the Ducks in the game. The Ducks also got their 3rd stolen base of the game before the walk. Ryan "THE SKEETER SWATTER" Garko crushed the ball for his 1st Grand Slam of the season...and the first ever for a Skeeters opponent. The side was retired on a fly out but the damage was already done...the score was 7-0. Much like the 2nd inning, Pressley & Van Ostrand went down in order bringing Castro up but he flew out to CF and the Skeeters went 3 up & 3 down for the second time this game. The score remained 7-0.

5th inning - For the first time this game, the Ducks went 3 up & 3 down...thank you Rackel!! Ben Harrison stepped up and tattoos the offering from Loree blasting his 4th HR of the season!! Martinez & Gutierrez go down in order. Bell busts his second double of the game to give Locke a chance for an RBI...but he grounded out to the pitcher. The score was 7-1.

6th inning - After getting blistered in the 4th inning, Rackel headed back out to the bump. He faced 5 batters giving up a single and a 1 out RBI double, along with ta 2 out walk to Ryan "THE SKEETER SWATTER" Garko before retiring the side with a fielder's choice ground out. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts got back to his hitting ways with a lead off single, moving to 2nd base on a Pressley ground out to 1st base. Van Ostrand's slump continued as he grounded out to the SS. With 2 outs on the board, the Skeeters finally get something going as Castro came up and busted ANOTHER single back up the middle scoring Botts from 2nd base! Harrison walked to give Martinez a chance to help the Skeeters. Martinez walked, loading the bases for player/coach Vic Gutierrez. Gutierrez shoots a double down the RF line scoring 2 runs! After a pitching change for the Ducks, Bell stepped up to bat.and knocks a single to RF scoring 2 more runs...his 3rd hit of the game! Locke ended the rally with a strike out to end the inning. The score was 8-6 heading into the 7th!!

7th inning - Eric Krebs came in for the Skeeters. After an error by Gutierrez, the base runner was caught stealing by Martinez for the first out...the 3rd caught stealing for Martinez in the game. Krebs gave up a 2 out double and single before retiring the side with a ground out to 2nd base. After busting out and getting themselves back in the game, the Skeeters went 3 up & 3 down for the 3rd time this game. The score remained 8-6.

8th inning - Krebs came back out to face the Ducks in the 8th inning. after a fly out and a single, Krebs threw the ball away trying to check the runner at first and allowed the runner to advance to 3rd base. He then issued an intentional walk to Garko, a season high 9 combined walks for the pitching staff in a game. Michael Nix then came in to relieve Krebs and hopefully get the Skeeters out of the inning. Nix retired the final 2 batters, holding the Ducks scoreless. The bottom of the line-up was due for the Skeeters. Castro reaches base for the 3rd time by drawing a walk, bringing up Harrison. He singled moving Castro to 2nd, "Big O" Martinez up to bat. "Big O" lays down a perfect bunt that scoots past the pitcher and 1st baseman, loading the bases for Vic Gutierrez!! Unlike his AB in the 6th, Gutierrez hit into the rare 1-2-3 double play. Bell ended the inning by flying out to the SS...leaving 2 runners on base, 7 for the game. The score remained 8-6.

9th inning - Nix issued a walk, the 10th for the Skeeter's pitching staff, to start the inning. Thanks to a fielder's choice and a 5-4-3 double play, the side was retired 3 up & 3 down for just the 2nd time this game. With just 3 outs left, the Skeeters had the meat of their line-up coming up in the bottom of the 9th. Locke, Botts, & Pressley give them the best shot at getting it done. Locke struck out for the 1st out of the inning. Botts flew out deep to LF, and Pressley lines a shot to CF reaching 1st base. Van Ostrand grounded out to SS to end the game. The final score was 8-6.

This loss drops the Skeeters to 5-11 for the season...last place in the Freedom Division. BOOOOO!!! The Somerset Patriots lost to the York Revolution so the Skeeters stay 4 games out of 1st with 124 games to go so panic should not be setting in just yet fans.

The 3rd game of the 6 game series is scheduled for a 4:05pm start time at Constellation Field.