Skeeters win game 11-7...series 2-1

With series wins needed to stay in the hunt for the 2nd half playoff spot, the Skeeters needed to win the rubber match to take the series. Michael Nix got the call for the Skeeters and faced off against Chris Flinn for the Ducks. Up to this point, the Skeeters pitching has held the Ducks to just 9 hits in the series...8 singles and 1 double, and just 2 total runs.

Michael Nix pitched 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 2 strike outs...getting credit for his 3rd win of the season.

The Skeeters got things going in the top of the second inning by sending 12 batters to the plate...scoring 7 runs. Josh Pressley & Aaron Bates both hit 2 singles, getting 1 RBI each. Amadeo Zazueta & Dominic Ramos singled with Ramos getting an RBI as well. Manny Mejia & Bubba Bell doubled accounting for 3 RBI. Ofilio Castro hit a sac fly to get an RBI in the inning as well. 7-0 Skeeters after 1.5 innings.

In the top of the 4th inning, the Skeeters sent 7 batters to the plate getting 2 runs on 4 hits. Ofilio Castro got a lead-off double and scored on a double by Bubba Bell. Bubba Bell then scored on a 1-out single by Josh Pressley, his 3rd single of the game. Aaron Bates also hit his 3rd single of the game before the side was retired. Now 9-0 Skeeters. Nix struggled slightly in the bottom of the 4th inning when he gave up a 2-run home run to Ray Navarrete, his 10th of the season, before retiring the side to make the score 9-2 .

Matt Hagen, who came in for Bubba Bell in the bottom of the 5th inning due to a sore shin from a foul ball last night, continued where Bell left off by getting a lead-off double. Josh Pressley continued hit perfect game by a 1-out single, his 4th single of the game, moving Hagen to 3rd base. Aaron Bates stayed perfect at 3 for 3 by drawing a walk to load the bases. Steve Moss finally got on the board with a 2 RBI single driving in Hagen & Pressley before the side was retired. The Skeeters lead 11-2 after 6 innings.

Ryan McKeller came in to relieve Nix in the 7th inning and went 1.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, striking out just 1 Duck before being replaced by Jusef Frias. The Ducks came storming back by scoring 4 runs on 6 hits, luckily leaving 2 runners on base, to make the score 11-7 Skeeters after 8 innings. 

Amadeo Zazueta got the 9th inning started with a lead-off double but did not make it past 3rd base...3 outs to get for the win.

Gaetti sent Roberto "The Undertaker" Giron to finish the game in the 9th inning.  He faced 4 Ducks, striking out 2 and allowing 1 hit. SKEETERS WIN 11-7!!

My MVP of the game is Josh Pressley for going 4-4 with 4 singles, 2 runs scored & 2 RBI before being pulled from the game.

Hitting Streaks:

Josh Pressley (13) - now tied with Jason Botts for team record

Steve Moss (12)

Bubba Bell (6)

Ofilio Castro (2)

With this win, the Skeeters take the series 2-1, the first series win and 2nd consecutive game win at Bethpage Ballpark! This win keeps the Skeeters within 1 game of the Lancaster Barnstormers for 1st place in the division.

The Skeeters now hop on the bus and travel to Somerset to face off against the Patriots in a 4-game series...over 3 days. The 2 teams will play a day/night double header on Tuesday. The 1st game of the series is scheduled for a 6:05pm local start Monday night.