Barnstormers Bitten By Skeeters
Published on May 24, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
Following a day in flight for both teams, the Sugar Land Skeeters swarmed the Lancaster Barnstormers, 9-0, Thursday evening at Constellation Field.
Drew Locke and Jason Botts drove in three runs each for Sugar Land to back a combined seven-hit shutout as the Skeeters climbed to within 1 1/2 games of the Barnstormers in the Freedom Division. Somerset is still in second place, one-half game behind Lancaster.
Rich Rundles (1-1) and Heath Phillips were able to match zeroes until the bottom of the fourth. Ofilio Castro led off with a single to left, and Ben Harrison connected for another. Octavio Martinez, attempting to bunt, was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rundles struck out Iggy Suarez for the first out, but Locke grounded a single up the middle to score one then walked Bubba Bell to force a second run home. Jason Botts hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning as Rundles minimized the damage.
He could not get out of the sixth. Harrison walked and, again, Martinez was hit by a pitch. Suarez loaded the bases with a bunt single up the third base line, and Rundles forced home a run by hitting Locke. Bell struck out for the first out of the inning, and Ching-Lung Lo was summoned to face Botts. Lo, who had retired his previous 20 batters, never got an out. Botts greeted him with a base-clearing double into the right field corner, stretching the lead to 6-0. Jimmy Van Ostrand followed with a double to the gap in left center for another run, while two errors led to the final marker of the inning.
Pedro Liriano (1-1) relieved Phillips, who just moved into the Sugar Land rotation, in the fifth and worked four scoreless innings to earn the win.
The same two clubs will meet on Friday evening at 8:05 EDT. Alan Johnson (2-3) will make the start for Lancaster against right-hander Ryan McKeller (1-3). The game will be aired on WLAN, 1390-AM beginning at 7:45.
Atlantic League Stories from May 24, 2012
- Win Streak Reaches Four - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Skeeters Win Streak Reaches Four - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Barnstormers Bitten By Skeeters - Lancaster Stormers
- York hangs on for win - York Revolution
- Comeback Falls Short against Bluefish - Long Island Ducks
- Bridgeport Defeats Long Island - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Ducks Sign Armando Benitez - Long Island Ducks
- Riversharks Rally Late for 4-3 Win - Somerset Patriots
- Gathright Signed by Reds - Bridgeport Bluefish
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