SUGAR LAND, TX – The Blue Crabs had a strong offensive showing Tuesday afternoon to beat the Skeeters 6-5 and even the series.
The Skeeters took an early lead in the first inning when Josh Prince led off with a single and scored on a double by shortstop Ricky Hague. Hague then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Jeremy Barfield.
Michael Snyder put the Blue Crabs on the board with a solo home run to lead off the second inning, and the score remained 2-1 until Catcher Travis Scott hit a solo shot on a full count to tack on another run for the Skeeters in the sixth.
The momentum shifted for the Blue Crabs in the top of the eighth. Jon Dziomba and Eric Garcia led off with singles and scored on a hit and a sacrifice fly by D’Arby Meyers and Angel Sanchez, respectively. Bryant Nelson walked on four straight balls followed by Zach Wilson, who drove in two RBIs with a one-out double. Michael Snyder hit a single to plate Wilson, making the score 6-3, before Kuan-Jen Chen hit into a double play to end the inning.
The Skeeters answered with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, to come within one run of the Blue Crabs, but outfielder Ben Guez lined out to the shortstop, stranding the winning run on base. The Skeeters went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, to secure the Blue Crabs Blue Crabs 6-5 victory.
Starting pitcher Gaby Hernandez went six innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs, with three strikeouts. However, reliever Brian Grening entered in the seventh and was credited with the win.
The Blue Crabs and the Skeeters will face off in the final game of the series tomorrow at Constellation Field in Sugar Land at 7:05. It will be the rubber match-up of the three game series.
