Aaron Palensky Helps to Power Somerset Patriots Past Bay Sox

The Somerset Patriots continue to roll after cashing in on a series of mistakes by the Bowie Bay Sox on Sunday to win the contest 6-5. Somerset has now won nine of its last 10 and sits at the top of the Eastern Division with a record of 16-10 in the second half. Somerset is 58-36 overall on the year, the best record in the Double-A Eastern League.

The back-and-forth affair found Somerset down twice in the contest, only to storm back to swipe the victory. With two runners aboard in the bottom of the eighth inning and one out, Jasson Dominguez grounded into an out at first base, allowing Aaron Palensky to score the game-tying run. However, a throwing error home by first baseman Jacob Teter allowed Trey Sweeney to slide in safely with the go-ahead run.

Palensky had a huge evening for Somerset. The 24-year-old went 2-for-4 with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth inning that gave Somerset a 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Jeisson Rosario had a solid night for Somerset. The DH lined his 13th double of the year to drive in Anthony Seigler in the bottom of the sixth inning that tied the game at three. Rosario would later score on a balk that gave Somerset an albeit brief 4-3 lead.

Matt Sauer got the start for Somerset and tossed five shutout innings while striking out seven. Saucer closed out the month of July with a sparkling 2.45 ERA in four starts.

The Patriots hit the road this week for Ohio, where they will face the Akron Ducks for the first time this season. Next week the Patriots return to TD Bank Ballpark to square off with the New York Mets Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.