Game 6 vs. Long Island Ducks

Not only was this the final game of the series with the Ducks, it was also a Texas vs. Texas pitching match-up. The Skeeters sent Matt Wright (Waco, TX) to square off against Randy Keisler (Houston, TX). After a thrilling 12 inning victory for the Skeeters on Tuesday, the hometown boys took the field looking to split the series, and win 2 in a row before setting out on the road.

For the 6th game in a row, the Ducks scored first in the game. This time in the first taking the lead 1-0 after a half of an inning. Bell & Locke hit back-to-back singles but the inning was retired on a 4-6-3 double play leaving 1 runner on base making it 1-0 after the 1st inning. Wright settled down in the 2nd inning helping the Ducks go 3 up & 3 down. With 1 out, Van Ostrand blasted a HR, his 2nd of the season, into the Mazda Picnic Plaza in LF to tie the game at 1-1, which is were it stayed after the next 2 batters were retired. Wright continued to pitch well in the 3rd inning and retired the side allowing 1 base runner to reach on an Iggy Suarez error. For the 2nd inning in a row, the Skeeters hit into an inning ending double play...this one was a 1-6-3 double play. Domination continued for Wright as he retired the side in the 4th inning allowing 1 base runner on a walk. Everything came together for the Skeeters as they were able to put a 2-out rally together getting singles from Pressley & Harrison. Van Ostrand hit a double, scoring Pressley & Harrison to make the score 1-3 in favor of our boys! The 5th inning became the 3rd inning in a row that Wright allowed a base runner but held the Ducks scoreless. The bases were juiced for Ofilio "THE HERO" Castro after Suarez singled, Locke walked & Botts singled. Castro flew out to RF for the 2nd out but it was deep enough to score Suarez from 3rd on the tag making it 1-4. Pressley went down swinging to end the inning...leaving 2 runners on base. Wright needed just 5 pitches to retire the side in the 6th inning, and has not allowed a hit since the single by Bryant Nelson in the 1st inning...the definition of DOMINATION!! Van Ostrand continued his hot streak getting a lead off single, making him 3 for 3 on the day. For the 3rd time this game, the Skeeters hit into an inning ending double play. This time Kade Johnson hit into the 5-4-3 double play. The score remained 1-4 after 6 innings. Matt "THE DOMINATOR" Wright retired the side issuing a walk for his 3rd of the game but added 2 more strike outs for 7 K's in the game. 

Skeeters go CRAZY in the 7th inning, score 13 runs on 7 hits...bat 18!!

Jeff Lyman came in to relieve Keisler in the 7th inning and issued a 4 pitch walk to Suarez...2 of which hit the backstop behind the catcher. Bell walked on 4 straight balls as well...making it 8 straight balls thrown by Lyman. In Bell's at bat, 2 of the pitched reached the backstop allowing Suarez to reach 3rd base. Lyman's struggles continued with Locke's at bat as he threw 2 balls, 10 straight balls in a row, 1 allowing Bell to advance to 2nd base as it got past the catcher for the 5th time in 10 pitches. To the Skeeters' fans disappointment, the Ducks manager brought Wynn Pelzer in to get Lyman out of there. Drew Locke delivered a 2 run single to give the Skeeters a 1-6 lead. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts walked, the 3rd for the Skeeters this inning, moving Locke to 2nd base. Ofilio "THE HERO" Castro stepped into the box and was hit by the pitch to load the bases...still no outs in the inning! Pressley slapped a single to score Locke from 3rd, the bases stay loaded for Van Ostrand. Van Ostrand drove the ball off the RF wall for a double scoring Botts & Castro to make it 1-9. Harrison drew the 4th walk of the inning loading the bases once again. Kade Johnson stepped up, the 9th batter in the inning, and was drilled in the back, scoring Pressley from 3rd. That makes it 9 batters up...9 batters on base!! Suarez came to bat for the 2nd time in the inning and singled to LF scoring Van Ostrand. Pelzer is pulled and replaced by Eric Niesen...still no outs in the bottom of the 7th inning!! Bubba Bell then singled scoring Harrison...making it 1-12, no outs, bases loaded! Locke, for his 2nd at bat in the inning, hit a scorcher to the SS resulting in Bell being tagged out at 2nd, but scored Johnson...all 9 Skeeters batters have now crossed home plate, in the same inning! With 2 runners on base, Jason "BIG MAN" Botts sent the ball deep to CF...landing in the Splash Pad making the score 1-16!! That was his 6th HR of the season and scored 3 more runs for the Skeeters. With the bases empty, Castro doubled keeping the Skeeters bats going! The Ducks brought in their RF Reid Gorecki to pitch...their 4th pitcher of the inning. Pressley took 1st base after being hit in the foot. Dominic Ramos came in to hit for Van Ostrand, and struck out for the 2nd out of the inning. Harrison stepped in for his 2nd at bat of the inning and made it to 1st base on an error by the 3rd baseman, scoring Castro from 2nd, 1-17 so far. The inning ended on a Johnson fly out to the 3rd baseman...the score stayed 1-17 after 7 innings!!

Back to reality...

In the 8th inning, Sugar Land native Sean Morgan took to the bump, since Matt "THE DOMINATOR" Wright sat the bench for an hour while the Skeeters batted in the 7th inning. Morgan got 2 quick outs but then walked the next 2 batters before giving up a 3 run HR to Ray Navarrete...making the score 4-17. The inning was retired on a ground out to 2nd base. The Skeeters only sent 4 batters to the plate but the scoring continued for the Skeeters as Drew Locke belted his 1st Hr of the season, making the score 4-18. Who knew it would take a right fielder pitching the slow the Skeeters down!! Heath Phillips came out to close the 9th inning and gave up a lead-off single, then a 2 out triple to make the score 5-17 before ending the game with a strike out. The final score was 5-17...SKEETERS WIN!!

Van Ostrand went 4 for 4 on the day with 3 runs & 3 RBI. Bubba Bell & Jason "BIG MAN" Botts both extended their consecutive game hit streak to 6 while Ben Harrison goes to 2 consecutive games. Matt "THE DOMINATOR" Wright went 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit while walking 3 & striking out 7. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts (6), Jimmy Van Ostrand (2) & Drew Locke (1) all hit HR's in the game.

This win gives the Skeeters a 7-13 record, 5 games behind Lancaster who plays later this evening.

The hometown boys finally have a day off tomorrow while traveling to Bridgeport for 3, then to York for 3.

The first game of the 3 game series against the Bridgeport Bluefish is scheduled for a 6:05pm (local time) start on Friday.