1 day...2 games...2 loses

GAME 1

The Skeeters started their day at 12:05pm with the 1st of 2 games on the schedule. Game 1 was played under protest by the Somerset Patriots because it would be a 7 inning game instead of 9...which is standard when there is a double-header being played.

As I sat in the outfield watching the game...I found out that Jason "BIG MAN" Botts was no longer with the team as he had been signed by a team in Japan. I also learned that Drew Locke had his contract purchased by the Houston Astros...and was headed to Corpus Christi even as the game was being played...thanks to my wife & Twitter! The good news is that a former Houston Astro joined the team...Jason Lane.

Ryan McKeller took the bump for the Skeeters and Mike MacDonald threw for the Patriots.

The visiting Patriots jumped out to a 1-run lead in the top of the 1st when Johnny Tucker scored on a Freddy Sandoval single. The Skeeters apparently used the same bats from last night as they were unable to get anything going until the 4th inning when Dominic Ramos hit a 1-run HR, his 3rd HR of the season, to tie the game 1-1. 

The 5th, 6th, & 7th innings passed with neither team scoring so into "extras" we went. The Patriots were able to score 1 run in the top of the 8th inning on an error by Iggy Suarez allowing Freddie Bynum to score the go-ahead run. The Skeeters were able to get 2 runners on with 2 outs when Bubba Bell singled & Dominic Ramos walked...but Josh Pressley ended the game on a ground-out to the short stop. Skeeters lose the 1st game 2-1.

Hitting Streaks:

Matt Hagen (7)

Bubba Bell (2)

Home Runs:

Dominic Ramos (3)

GAME 2

Heath Phillips faced Roy Merritt for the 2nd game...and the Skeeters woes continued. This game, unlike the 1st game, would be a full 9 innings.

Once again, the Patriots scored in the top of the 1st when Jonny Tucker crossed the plate on a Freddy Sandoval single. Freddy Sandoval scored the 2nd run when Johnny Drennan singled in the top of the 3rd inning. The Skeeters were able to cut the lead in half when Octavio Martinez scored on a Dominic Ramos sacrifice fly to center field...score was 2-1 Patriots.

The Patriots added 2 runs in the 4th inning on back-to-back singles by Freddie Bynum & Jeff Nettles...scoring Dan DeGeorge & Jonny Tucker to make the score 4-1. The Skeeters were able to load the bases with a Dominic Ramos single, a Bubba Bell single, and a Matt Hagen walk but could not get a run across...headed to the 9th inning down 4-1...which is what the final score was.

Hitting Streaks:

Bubba Bell (3)

Dominic Ramos (2)

Manuel Mejia (2)

With the 2 loses today, the Skeeters are 17-25...8 games out of 1st place & 2.5 games behind the Somerset Patriots...in last place.

The 4th game of the series is scheduled for 6:05pm Sunday night.