AtL Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Blue Crabs Take Game Five in Ninth, 4-3

Published on July 17, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release


SUGAR LAND, Texas - A three run first inning for the Skeeters was not enough to hold the Blue Crabs down in game five at Constellation Field in front of 6224 on Tuesday night.

Coming up...The Sugar Land Skeeters (2-3) and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (3-2) wrap up the six-game series Wednesday night at Constellation Field before both teams head back up north. Heath Phillips (1-5) squares off against Dan Reichert (6-3) in a rematch of the first game to start the second half. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Join the Skeeters for Jewish Heritage Night at Constellation Field. The Skeeters will be serving a unique kosher menu in the Performance Mazda Picnic Plaza with appearances from local area synagogues!

Bobby Livingston made his first start of the second half coming off 10 days rest, but the Atlantic League leader in wins only worked four and a third innings to match his shortest outing of the season. The no-decision snapped the Missouri native's seven-game winning streak. Livingston gave up three earned runs off two home runs, three hits and five walks while striking out seven.

David Hunter Jones started his first game against the Skeeters in his seventh outing of the season. The former Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins reliever also received the no-decision after firing six and third innings while walking just one and striking out 10. The lefty gave up three earned runs on four hits.

Sugar Land started the scoring for the second night in a row Tuesday evening. With two outs already in the inning, Jason Lane took a free pass to reach first. In the next at-bat, Ofilio Castro knocked him in from first with a double into the right-center field gap. One batter later, newest signing Aaron Bates made an immediate impact launching the first pitch he saw over the wall in left-center field. The home run (1) gave Sugar Land an early 3-0 lead.

Southern Maryland responded quickly in the top of the second. With one out and nobody on, designated-hitter Travis Garcia popped a hanging off-speed pitch over the wall in left to put the Blue Crabs on the board, 3-1. It was Garcia's third home run in as many games against Sugar Land in the series.

After a scoreless bottom-half for the second, the top of third brought the Blue Crabs back into the game. Richard Giannotti drew a leadoff walk, and at the top of the order, center fielder Jeremy Owens produced his team-leading 12th home run of the season into left-center field to tie the game, 3-3.

Garrett Parcell pitched two and a third scoreless innings to help hold the game through the fifth, sixth and seventh and Octavio Martinez made two incredible stonewall plays at the plate to save two go-ahead chances for the Blue Crabs in the fifth and seventh innings. Chris Mobley (3-1) came in for relief of Jones and fired one and a third scoreless innings to secure himself the win after the Blue Crabs scored in the ninth.

After picking up the win last night, Roberto Giron (1-1) was tagged with the unlucky loss even though he worked a solid two innings giving up no hits and one walk while striking out four. In the top of the ninth, Giron struck out the first batter he faced to put one up on the board, but in his fifth at-bat of the night, Owens reached first on an error from shortstop Iggy Suarez. Owens stole second to get in scoring position. Gary Majewski made an appearance to try and close out the ninth, but Brian Barton managed to hit a sharp liner off the leg of Matt Hagen at second base that skittered into left. Owens came around to give Southern Maryland the lead, 4-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, closer Jim Ed Warden made an appearance for the second time this series with the lead at one and stitched up the inning with his ninth save of the season after loading the bases with one out. Manny Mejia walked up in a pinch-hit situation and grounded into a game-ending five-unassisted to first double play.

Skeeters Bites: Aaron Bates hit his first home run of the season with his first swing as a Skeeter...Ofilio Castro knocked in his 30th RBI of the year with his 12th double of the year...

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Atlantic League Stories from July 17, 2012


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