EL Somerset Patriots

First Half Championship Clinched By Somerset

June 23, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Somerset Patriots celebrate win
Somerset Patriots celebrate win
(Somerset Patriots, Credit: Phebe Grosser | MLB)

The Somerset Patriots clinched a playoff spot and first-half championship in the Eastern League's Northeast Division on Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark as they took down the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by a score of 12-1 in the fourth of the six-game set.

Somerset is now first-half champions for back-to-back seasons as they look to defend their 2022 Eastern League Championship.

Somerset blasted a season-high five homers in the contest and has now homered in each of their last 22 games including each in the month of June. Over that span, the Patriots are 16-6 with a +49 run differential. The streak is Somerset's longest of the year.

The Patriots bullpen duo of Danny Watson and Ryan Anderson combined to go 4.2 shutout innings, allowing only one hit while striking out 8.

RHP Matt Sauer (4.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 5 K) took the no-decision in his first start of the season for Somerset since being activated off the injured list.

SS Trey Sweeney (1-for-4, HR, R) got the scoring started with a solo homer in the 1st inning, his 10th of the season.

With the homer, Sweeney has now gone deep in five of his last six games and six times in his last nine games. In 19 G since 6/2, Sweeney is hitting .293 with 7 HR, 15 RBI, and a .980 OPS. The Yankees No. 5 prospect has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games.

RF Everson Pereira (2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI) launched a two-run blast in the 1st inning in his return to the lineup for the first time since 5/30, before plating two more runs with a single in the 3rd. Among players with 140+ at-bats, Pereira leads the team in BA (.295), and OPS (.903). Friday marked Pereira's sixth multi-RBI performance and 11th multi-hit performance on the season.

1B TJ Rumfield (1-for-4, HR) extended the Patriots lead to 6-1 with a solo homer in the 3rd inning for his 13th of the year. Rumfield has now homered a team-leading seven times in the month of June, all coming over his last 13 games. Over that span, Rumfield is slugging .625 with a .916 OPS.

3B Tyler Hardman (2-for-3, HR, 2B) put the finishing touches on the win with his team-leading 14th homer of the year, a solo blast in the 7th inning. Hardman's 14 HR are tied for 3rd most in the Eastern League. Today's postgame notes, as well as the box score, are attached.

Check out the Somerset Patriots Statistics




Images from this story

Somerset Patriots celebrate win
Somerset Patriots celebrate win
(Phebe Grosser | MLB)		   



Eastern League Stories from June 23, 2023


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