Game 5 vs. Long Island Ducks

After 3 straight losses for the Skeeters, they took the field against the Ducks looking to turn things around. Derrick Gordon took the bump for the Skeeters and Bob Zimmerman went for the Ducks. 

The 1st inning came and went without much excitement as the Ducks went 3 up & 3 down and the Skeeters were only able to get a lead off single by Bubba Bell. For the 3rd game in a row, the home team fell behind in the top of the 2nd inning 2-0...the second game in a row that it was a result of a 2-run home run. The 3rd & 4th innings were quiet for both teams but the top half of the 5th inning saw the Ducks add another run, off of a 1 out home run to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead. The Skeeters halted a 14 up & 14 down streak when Harrison singled...but the side was retired with no runs scored. After a single and a stolen base, James McOwen scored for the Ducks on a single by Shawn Williams to make the score 4-0 before the side was retired. Octavio Martinez & Bubba Bell hit back-to-back doubles resulting in 1 run being scored before the side was retired on a 6-3 double play...making the score 4-1. Will Startup took the mound in relief and faced 4 batters, walking the lead off batter, but held the Ducks scoreless. The bottom half of the 7th inning had the Skeeters rally by sending 9 batters to the plate. Castro reached on an error by the SS and scored on a Harrison single. Harrison was able to score on a ball hit by Bell who reached on an error by the pitcher, and Locke & Martinez scored on a Jason "BIG MAN" Botts 2 out single to make the score 4-5!! In the 8th inning, Will Startup continued to dominate the Ducks by getting his 6th straight out after walking the first batter he faced in the 7th inning. Castro stepped up needing a hit to continue his consecutive game hit streak and drew a walk...the second inning in a row he reached base as the lead-off batter. Van Ostrand hit into a 5-4-3 double play, the 3rd double play the Skeeters hit into for the day. Harrison ended the inning on a strike out. Gary Majewski came out in the 9th inning for his first save opportunity of the season. He faced the bottom half of the Duck's lineup and for the 2nd game in a row, the pitching staff was unable to hold the lead for a win. Majewski gave up a single and a triple to score 1 run to tie the game 5-5. He then walked the next batter to put runners on the corners. Majewski faced Kraig Binick at the top of the lineup and got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 inning ending double play. Sugar Land's hopes of winning rested squarely on the shoulders of Locke (0-2), Martinez (2-3), and Bell (2-4). Locke flew out to RF and Martinez singled to SS, beating out the throw to give the Skeeters a chance. Bell then swung on the first pitch hitting into the 4-6-3 inning ending double play...the 4th double play the Skeeters hit into for the game. For the first time this season, the Skeeters play extra innings when Majewski took the mound in the 10th even though he lost the save in the 9th...and was able to go 3 up & 3 down to retire the side. With the game still tied, Ramos & Botts went down on strikes and Pressley flew out to 2nd base to send it to the 11th...the 6th time this game for the Skeeters to go 3 up & 3 down. Eric Krebs came in for the Skeeters and retired the side 3 up & 3 down...6 straight for the Skeeters pitching staff. With 2 runners on base and 2 outs, Martinez sent a scorcher to RF and Van Ostrand was thrown out at home as he tried to score from 2nd to end the inning...headed to the 12 inning. Once again Krebs mowed through the Ducks, 3 up & 3 down...9 batters retired in a row for the Skeeters pitching staff. The game ended on a 2-out walk-off HR hit by Jason "BIG MAN" Botts to the deepest part of the park for the Skeeters' first ever walk-off HR/extra innings game/win in franchise history! The final score of the game was 6-5...SKEETERS WIN!! The HR was Botts' 5th of the season to lead the team, and placed him in a tie for second most in the league.

Ofilio "THE HERO" Castro ended his consecutive game hit streak at 4, being held without a hit today. Bubba Bell and Jason "BIG MAN" Botts both extended their streaks to 4 consecutive games with a hit. 

The conclusion of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 11:05am local time. The Skeeters will have Thursday off, the only day off this month, before heading back out on the road for a 6-game road trip...3 against Bridgeport and 3 against York.