Skeeters Drop First Game of the Season 6-4 in Albuquerque 

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - The Sugar Land Skeeters dropped their first game of the season 6-4 to the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday afternoon.

The Skeeters (3-1) brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning in Jose Siri but Isotopes right-hander Chad Smith was able to strand a runner at second to end the game. Taylor Jones made it a two-run game with one out in the ninth on a two-run double. Jones was responsible for all four Skeeters RBIs in the game, also hitting a two-run opposite-field home run in the third inning. It was Jones' first homer of the year.

The Isotopes (1-3) belted four home runs, three off Skeeters starter Ryan Hartman, to hand the Skeeters their first loss as a Triple A Franchise. Greg Bird hit the first of the home runs, with a two-run shot in the first inning. Wynton Bernard and Ryan Longhi each followed with home runs in the fourth inning.

Hartman, who took the loss, allowed five runs on four hits while striking out three and walking three over five innings of work.

Siri continued his astounding start to the season, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Siri has collected at least two hits in each of the Skeeters’ first four games and leads the team with four doubles and nine RBIs.

Taylor Motter hit a solo home run in the eighth off Skeeters right-hander Ronel Blanco to cement the Isotopes lead. Isotopes starter Ryan Castellani picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits and scattering four walks through five innings.

The Skeeters and Isotopes continue their six-game series at 7:35 p.m. on Monday night at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. Right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez will make his first start of the season for the Skeeters and will be opposed by right-hander Jose Mujica for Albuquerque.