AtL Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Merritt's Gem Snaps Six-Game Losing Streak, 3-2

Published on July 30, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release


CAMDEN, N.J. - The Sugar Land Skeeters snapped a six-game losing streak behind starting pitcher Roy Merritt and first baseman Allan Dykstra with a 3-2 victory over Camden at Campbells Field in New Jersey. The Skeeters improve to 8-12 in the second half and 44-46 overall.

Roy Merritt hurled his eighth-straight quality start, allowing one run over 7.0 innings on five hits and one walk while striking out six. With the victory, Merritt improves to 4-3 on the season and is just the second team win in his last seven starts. Additionally the southpaw helped his own cause, going 1-for-3 at the plate in the first at-bats by a Skeeters pitcher this season.

Allan Dykstra recorded his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game as a member of the Skeeters, going 2-for-4 at the plate while driving in a pair.

Sugar Land opened the scoring in the top of the third. Jeff Dominguez started the inning with a single before a one-out double into the alley off the bat of Allan Dykstra staked the Skeeters a 1-0 lead.

The Skeeters expanded the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Amadeo Zazueta and Denny Almonte recorded back-to-back singles before a sacrifice bunt from Merritt moved both runners into scoring position. With the infield drawn in, Kevin Russo grounded out to shortstop, holding Zazueta at third, but a double from Dominguez brought home Zazueta. Almonte was gunned down at the plate for the third out on the play, but not before Sugar Land increased the lead.

Camden would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Rockett reached on a two-out double before coming into score on a single from his brother, Daniel Rockett, moving the score to 2-1.

Sugar Land would get the run back in the top of the seventh after Riversharks starter, Wes Torrez, exited the contest. Wallace and Dykstra logged back-to-back two out doubles to move the score to 3-1. With the double, Dykstra recorded his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game in a Skeeters uniform.

Tim Gustafon relieved Merritt in the bottom of the eighth and quickly ran into trouble. The right-hander surrendered three-straight singles, narrowing the score to 3-2, before a fielder's choice for the first out left runners on the corners. Southpaw Derrick Loop entered with two on and escaped the jam by inducing a popup and a groundout to keep the lead intact.

Loop retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season and secure the 3-2 win.

The full box score can be found online at http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=269804

The Skeeters travel to Southern Maryland for a four-game road series with the Blue Crabs tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. on the road. Listen live to all the action on the road at SugarLandSkeeters.com. Season tickets and special game plans are still available for the 2015 campaign. Sign up today by calling the box office at 281-240-4487 to join the swarm.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 30, 2015


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