AtL Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Skeeters Get Nipped by Blue Crabs in Series Opener, 5-3

Published on May 27, 2015 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release


SUGAR LAND, Texas - The Sugar Land Skeeters fell to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 5-3, in their return trip to Constellation Field in front of 3,077 fans. The loss drops the Skeeters to 13-19 while the Blue Crabs improved their Freedom Division-leading record to 20-12.

Southern Maryland scratched across a run in the top of the second, breaking the scoring seal in the contest. Gustavo Molina hit a bloop single, just over the head of shortstop, Beamer Weems, with one out and moved up to second on a balk. Casey Stevenson drew a four-pitch walk following a foul out to first before Fred Lewis hit a lazy-line drive into centerfield, bringing in Molina for a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Crabs added to their lead in the top of the fourth. Molina pulled a double down the line in left to open the frame. Daryle Ward pulled a single through the right-side of the infield, moving up Molina to third. Stevenson hit a ball into the right-center alley bringing in Molina and expanding the lead to 2-0. Southern Maryland would be unable to tack on any more runs, however, despite loading the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, Wright got Antone DeJesus to fly out to left and Dustin Martin made a perfect throw to the plate for the 7-2 double play.

The Skeeters began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Denny Almonte singled down the left field line and stole second during the ensuing at-bat. Willy Taveras hit a slow roller to first and hustled down the line, drawing a high throw from first baseman Zach Wilson, bringing in Almonte on the errant toss.

Skeeters starter Matt Wright turned in a quality outing before being lifted in the top of the sixth. The right-hander surrendered two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four before handing the ball off to Ramon Delgado. The Sugar Land reliever gave up a solo home run to Daryle Ward, giving the Blue Crabs a 3-1 lead.

Sugar Land responded in the home half of the sixth after loading the bases with no outs. Young deposited a Texas-League single down the left field line and Martin legged out an infield single to put two on with no outs. Beamer Weems extended his on-base streak to 22 games after getting hit in the ankle to load the bases. Patrick Palmeiro grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing a run to come in and narrow the gap to one, 3-2.

Southern Maryland again responded to the Skeeters score, this time with a bases-loaded single off the bat of Molina. Casey Frawley reached on a single to center and Renny Osuna got on after an error by Palmeiro at third. After Delgado struck out Wilson, Cyle Hankerd was plunked to load the bases. Molina belted a single to center that Taveras was unable to come up with on the dive, scoring a pair and expanding the lead to 5-2 going to the stretch.

The Skeeters offense battled valiantly in the bottom of the ninth. Sugar Land put the tying run on first with two outs after an RBI single from Scott, but a groundout to first ended the contest.

The full box score can be found online at http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=269916.

The Skeeters continue the seven-game homestand tomorrow at Constellation Field against Southern Maryland. First pitch with the Blue Crabs is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (CT). Fans can watch all the action at home 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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Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2015


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