Skeeters Win Series Finale 9-6 Over Patriots

Sugar Land, TX – The Sugar Land Skeeters (33-30) scored five runs in the seventh inning to break the 3-3 tie as they clinched the series against the Somerset Patriots (35-28) Sunday evening at Constellation Field. The Patriots brought the go ahead run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning, but ultimately fell by a final of 9-6. The Patriots and Ducks are tied in the Liberty Division standings with seven games remaining in the first half.

“This road trip obviously wasn’t how we drew it up,” said starting pitcher Shaun Garceau, who has now thrown at least six innings in each of his last five starts. “But we are excited to come home to finish the half. You play baseball to be in a race and we’re going to keep competing.”

For the third straight game the Patriots scored a first inning run. Bryan LaHair legged out an RBI infield single.

Josh Prince would counter with a leadoff home run (2) to even the score at 1-1 in the first inning.

The Skeeters plated a pair of runs in the second frame as Beamer Weems socked an RBI single and another run crossed home via a Carlos Guzman error in right field.

The Patriots responded with two of their own runs in the fifth inning. After three straight walks to open the inning, Eric Farris wrapped into a double play, but a run scored. The next batter, LaHair, picked up his second RBI of the evening with a solid single to right.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Chris Treibt was summoned from the bullpen. He was signed this morning because of some tired arms in the bullpen as the Patriots played 17 innings of baseball last night. Treibt yielded two RBI doubles to both Josh Barfield and Kent Matthes, while Ricky Hagued legged out an RBI infield single. The score was 8-3 in favor of Sugar Land after seven innings.

In the top of the eighth inning Somerset scored three times to cut the deficit to 8-6. Both Mycal Jones and Rob Kral tallied RBI doubles. The catcher, Alberto Cordero, committed a throwing error that allowed an additional run to score.

Jeff Dominguez belted an RBI single to provide insurance for the home squad in the eighth inning to make the score 9-6 which would be the final.

With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, Matt Fields and Scott Kelly represented the go ahead run but they struck out and grounded out respectively.

Andrew Johnston (4-0) earned the run. He threw a scoreless inning. He has allowed two earned runs in 32.0 innings this year. Treibt (0-1) suffered the loss yielding six runs in 1.2 innings. Derrick Loop (15) notched the save pitching the final frame.

The 2016 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford continues tomorrow when the team returns to TD Bank Ballpark for a 7:05 p.m. game against the New Britain Bees. For tickets, call 908-252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com. Download our Mobile App for free in the Apple or Android App store.