Snappers Sputter, Drop Opener to Squeeze

ORLANDO, Fla. - There wasn't much to write home about in the Orlando Snappers' 7-4 loss to the Winter Garden Squeeze on Thursday night. A pitchers' duel saw Winter Garden produce just enough offense to carry it to victory, and a late surge by the Snappers fell short.

The loss dropped Orlando back to .500 for the first time this season. The win also lifted Winter Garden to .500 for the first time this summer. The two teams are now tied for third place in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, trailing Winter Park and Leesburg.

Luis Machado shined for Orlando, and he may have been the lone bright spot from the game. Machado cruised through six innings of one-run ball, easily his best outing of the season. Unfortunately, he received no run support. He took the loss after departing with Orlando trailing 1-0, a deficit the Snappers could not overcome.

Orlando's scoreless-inning streak reached 14 before Colby Brewington scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth. The Snappers produced three runs in the bottom of the ninth to make the final score look more respectable than it really was.

The Snappers have now lost two straight and five of their last six games.

A chance for revenge comes Friday night in a rematch with the Squeeze. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The First Academy.

Theo Shernoff (Michigan)