Somerset Patriots Roll Back into First With Sweep
The Somerset Patriots are back in first place in the Eastern League’s East Division after completing a three-game weekend sweep of the Altoona Curve on Sunday. At 14-7 in the second half, the Patriots hold a 1.5-game lead over the Mets Double-A affiliate, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and a two-game lead over the Red Sox Double-A affiliate, Portland Seadogs.
The Patriots and Seadogs will square off in a critical six-game series starting Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark.
PITCHING DOMINATES
Over the three games against the Curve, the Patriots’ pitching staff dominated, allowing a grand total of three earned runs over 27 innings of work. Trystan Vrieling set the tone on Friday night, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate over six innings of work. He gave up only a hit, walked three and struck out a trio.
Bailey Dees and Zach Messinger followed that up with impressive outings of their own on Saturday and Sunday.
The Patriots bullpen combined to throw 9.1 shutout innings, allowing only one hit over the three games.
CLUTCH HITTING
The Yankees number two overall prospect continued to rake over the weekend. Jones had a hit in every game of the series (3-of-12, run, and an RBI), to bring his batting average to .238 on the season.
Meanwhile, Elijah Dunham extended his hitting streak to five games with a single in Sunday’s action. Dunham, the winner of Eastern League Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks, has hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games and reached base in 26 of his last 27.
Ben Cowles also lifted his ninth homer of the year in the fourth inning on Sunday. It was the only homer hit-all series by Somerset.
NEXT:
As mentioned earlier, the Patriots will open a six-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate, Portland Seadogs on Tuesday night at 6:05. Four-time World Series championship manager Joe Torre will be on hand for a VIP meet and greet before the game as part of a partnership with Torre’s charity, the Safe at Home Foundation.
Torre will take part in a sold-out pre-game VIP meet and greet at the Patriots SK Club before taking the field for a Q&A about his career and charity. He will throw out the first pitch before the game begins.