Game 2 vs. Lancaster Barnstormers

With a 4-game win streak for the Skeeters, they took the field feeling pretty good about how things are going. Ryan McKeller (1-3, 5.63 ERA) took the mound for the Skeeters and Alan Johnson (2-3, 8.72 ERA) took the mound for the Barnstormers. The last time the Skeeters faced Johnson, he lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up 7 runs on 8 hits, with a whopping 21.21 ERA. The Skeeters hoped to see that pitcher once again.

Things started quickly for the Barnstormers as they were able to send 6 batters to the plate, getting 3 hits and scoring 1 run in the 1st inning. The Skeeters were able to bat 5 players, getting 1 hit but failed to score. 

McKeller settled down in the 2nd inning only facing 4 batters and allowed 1 hit, keeping the Barnstormers scoreless. The Alan Johnson the Skeeters hoped they would see showed up in the bottom of the 2nd inning as he fell apart allowing the Skeeters to score 4 runs. The runs came from a Harrison 1-run HR, his 8th for the season, and a Locke 3-run HR, his 3rd for the season. The 3-run HR came after Martinez was hit by a pitch, the 3rd time in 2 games, and Suarez reached off an error by the short stop. The score after the 2nd inning was 1-4, Skeeters.

The scoring came to a screeching halt after the 2nd inning as Johnson settled down for Lancaster and McKeller continued to through very well. The Barnstormers went 3 up & 3 down in the 3rd & 4th inning, while the Skeeters went 7 up & 6 down during the same 2 innings, with Pressley getting the only hit with a single.

Trouble set in for McKeller as he gave up a 1-out single to Emerson Frostad, a double to Adam Godwin and a walk to Fehlandt Lentini to load the bases. After getting a strike out for the 2nd out, Terry Tiffee singled, scoring Frostad and Godwin. Gaetti had seen enough, bringing in Sean Morgan (0-0, 5.54 ERA), the former Clements Ranger, to stop the bleeding...which he did with just 2 pitches, score was 3-4 heading into the bottom of the 5th inning. Jason "BIG MAN" Botts started the 5th inning with a stand-up double, his 8th of the season. Pressley singled to the short stop with 2-outs but Botts was tagged out by the 3rd baseman to end the inning. The score remained 3-4 after the 5th inning...Skeeters lead.

In the 6th inning, Morgan got 2 quick outs but gave up a single to Jaime Pedroza, and gave up a 4-pitch walk to Emerson Frostad before retiring the side, holding the Barnstormers scoreless. The Skeeters added an insurance run after Harrison walked and worked his way to 3rd base on a pass ball and a ground out, scoring on a wild pitch by the new Lancaster pitcher, Les Walrond (0-0, 3.27 ERA). Suarez walked but was stranded. The score after 6 innings was 3-5...Skeeters lead!

Michael Nix (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 1 Save) came in and sat the Barnstormers down in order in the 7th inning. The Skeeters also went 3 up & 3 down in the inning. In the top of the 8th inning, Nix was done for the night after giving up 3 hits & 2 runs, losing the lead. With 2 outs in the inning, Ryan Houston (0-1, 4.26 ERA, 1 Save) came in and gave up a single to Adam Godwin scoring Frostad. Godwin moved to 3rd when Botts over-threw Martinez at home plate. Houston then proceeded to hit Lentini in the chest putting runners on the corners...2 outs. The side was finally retired but the damage was done...the Barnstormers took the lead for the second time in the game, 6-5. With 2 outs, and 2 on, Locke flew out to RF to end the inning for the Skeeters. The score after 8 innings was 6-5, Lancaster leads.

Will Startup (3-1, 2.25 ERA) came in to face the meat of the Lancaster line-up; Tiffee, Merchan & Gailen. Startup got 2 quick outs before walking Gailen, bringing Boyer to the plate who struck out to retire the side. The Skeeters bat 4 in the bottom of the 9th but after a Van Ostrand walk, retire the side. The final score was 6-5 Lancaster.

With the loss, Sugar Land ends their winning streak and drops to 2.5 games out of 1st, 2 games out of 2nd place. 

The game Saturday night is scheduled for 7:05pm local time.