Peña and Matijevic Power Skeeters to Victory

(SUGAR LAND, Texas) – Jeremy Peña and JJ Matijevic delivered home runs and combined to drive in all five runs in a 5-3 Sugar Land Skeeters win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Monday night at Constellation Field.

Matijevic got the Skeeters started with a three-run homer to straightaway right field in first, which was his 16th homer with the Skeeters and his 25th overall of the year. Matijevic’s 25 home runs, combined with his time with Double A Corpus Christi, are the second-most of Houston Astros minor leaguers and a career high. Matijevic added an RBI double in the third, giving him his third four-RBI game since joining the Skeeters.

Peña, rated as the Astros No. 4 prospect by MLB.com, launched a solo shot in the fifth inning. Peña has five home runs over his last 12 games and has hit .417 (20x48) throughout that stretch.

JP France moved to 6-1 with the Skeeters this season, striking out seven batters while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits across five innings. Shawn Dubin allowed just one hit and struck out four through three scoreless innings and Ronel Blanco logged his Triple A West-leading 21st save of the year. Blanco also accomplished an Immaculate Inning with the save, tossing nine pitches (all strikes) while striking out the side.

Albuquerque logged all three of its runs in the third inning. Wynton Bernard’s line-drive single rolled past center fielder Ronnie Dawson, allowing both runners on base, as well as Bernard, to come around and score.

Korey Lee, the Astros No. 1-rated prospect, per MLB.com, logged his first Triple A start and finished the night 1-for-4.

The Skeeters and Isotopes finish out their six-game set at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday at Constellation Field. Chad Donato will take the mound for the Skeeters, with Ryan Feltner scheduled to start for Albuquerque.

Tickets for the rest of the Skeeters’ 2021 regular season – including the Triple A Final Stretch – are on sale and can be purchased by visiting sugarlandskeeters.com/tickets.

For updates and more information on the Skeeters, please visit sugarlandskeeters.com and follow the Skeeters onFacebook, Instagram (@sugarlandskeeters) and Twitter (@SL_Skeeters).