SANFORD, Fla – Through the first two full weeks of the season, the 2018 Sanford River Rats have been streaky. After an 0-3 start, the Rats ripped off five wins in six games to advance to 5-4. However, the team has since hit another three game skid and now sits at 5-7 entering week three.

Last Sunday, the Rats picked up their only win of the week in a 5-4 decision over DeLand. Miles Simington (Heartland) led the way going 2-for-2, reaching base all four times, and picking up two RBIs. On the mound, Ryan Brewer (Pensacola State) notched his first win of the season thanks to a stellar three-inning performance in relief. Brewer tossed three scoreless innings and only yielded two hits.

However, after the Sunday win, the Rats dropped three consecutive contests, being outscored by a wide margin.

On Wednesday, Sanford made the trip to Winter Garden to take on the Squeeze in a doubleheader. Game one of the double-dip was suspended due to lightning. When the game was suspended, it was tied at 0-0 and right-hander Devin Meyer (Nova Southeastern) had a shutout in the process. However, his stat line will not become final until the game is finished.

The two teams played game two after a three-hour delay, and the Rats fell 12-1.

On Thursday night the Rats traveled out to Pat Thomas Stadium to take on the Leesburg Lightning and battled in a tight-knit, back-and-forth affair. The Lightning eventually plated three seventh-inning runs to take the 7-6 lead which held on to be final.

Friday night brought another lightning delay against Leesburg. The teams were square at 1-1 before an hourlong delay due to Mother Nature. After the delay, the Lightning struck for 13 more runs en route to victory, dropping the Rats to 5-7 on the season.

Simington led the offensive stat sheet during the week. Simington finished with a .545 batting average (6-for-11) with a double, home run, and four RBIs. Entering the week, the lefty was hitting .182. The slugger is now hitting a healthy .375 on the year.

Jarrod Cande (Santa Fe) and Andrew Labosky (Nova Southeastern) also saw good weeks at the plate. Cande went 4-for-8 and Labosky hit a smooth .400 and stole three bases.

The Rats added to their league-high home run total by launching two more long balls this week. Simington blasted a two-run home run and Bubba Sangster (St. Johns River) tattooed a no-doubt, solo home run. Sangster now leads the Florida League in home runs with four.

On the mound, walks hurt the Rats’ chances, but good pitching performances were scattered throughout the week. Going forward, Rats’ head coach Scott Makarewicz said the team will be ready to make a run.

This week, the Rats will be at Sanford Memorial Stadium for all five games. They open with a pair of home games against the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs. Then, the Rats have a day off on Wednesday before a three-game series against the Seminole County Scorpions.

Myan Patel (Georgia)