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AtL Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Ninth Inning Error Haunts Skeeters in 5-4 Loss

June 24, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release


SUGAR LAND, Texas - The Sugar Land Skeeters fell in disappointing fashion in Pink In the Park night at Constellation Field after Delwyn Young committed an error in the ninth that led to three unearned runs in a 5-4 loss to Long Island. The loss snaps a 10-game home winning streak by Sugar Land as the Skeeters fall to 29-31 on the year.

The Skeeters struck first in the bottom of the second thanks to a miscue from Long Island's catcher, Mike Blanke. Johan Limonta drew a walk to open the inning and advanced to second on a groundout deep in the hole to second by Patrick Palmeiro. Denny Almonte followed with a shallow popup into right-center, falling between the centerfielder, rightfielder and second baseman for a base hit. Blanke was unable to handle starting pitcher, Mickey Jannis' next offering, allowing Limonta to trot home from third and stake the Skeeters to a 1-0 lead.

After putting runners on in three of the first four innings, Long Island finally pushed a run across on Sugar Land's starter, Roy Merritt. Prentice Redman opened the fifth with a double to left. Merritt induced an infield popup and a groundout to second to appear to work around trouble. Reegie Corona pulled Merritt's 1-1 offering down the left field line for a triple, bringing in Redman to tie the game. The Skeeters' southpaw got a flyout to right to strand Corona at third.

Sugar Land reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a timely two-out RBI from Amadeo Zazueta. For the second-straight inning, Jannis issued a hit-by-pitch to start the frame, plunking Limonta to get the leadoff man aboard. Following a strikeout and a groundout that advanced Limonta to second, Zazueta deposited a bloop single down the left field line, bringing in the Skeeters' left fielder to take a 2-1 advantage.

Merritt turned in the third-straight quality start by Sugar Land pitching. The southpaw scattered six hits for one run over six innings while striking out two.

Long Island wasted no time in answering the Skeeters' run. Adrian Martin came in to relieve Merritt and surrendered a leadoff double into the left-center alley to Blanke before a two-base error at third allowed the Ducks' catcher to come in to score and tie the game.

After chasing Jannis from the game in the bottom of the seventh, the Skeeters pushed across the go-ahead run on reliever, Bruce Kern. Russo roped a single through the right-side of the infield before Delwyn Young blasted a single into left-center, allowing Russo to go first-to-third. Travis Scott rifled a double down the left field line, scoring Russo and regaining the lead for the Skeeters. Young eventually came in on a wild pitch, giving Sugar Land an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, 4-2.

Andrew Johnston pitched a scoreless eighth before handing the ball off to John Lujan in the ninth. The right-hander picked up two quick outs in the ninth and induced a ground ball to second that would have capped the game, but Young bobbled the attempt and was unable to throw Dan Lyons out on the play, bringing the tying run to the plate. Bryan Sabatella worked a walk, allowing Corona to single into right and move the tying run 90-feet from home. Following an intentional walk to Lew Ford to load the bases, Randy Ruiz singled up the middle, bringing in two and giving Long Island a 5-4 lead.

The Skeeters put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to bring him around to tie the game, falling 5-4.

The full box score can be found online at http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=269934

The Skeeters continue the six game homestand at the friendly confines of Constellation Field tomorrow against Long Island for 80's Night. First pitch with the Ducks is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (CT). Fans can follow along with all the action on ESPN3.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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