Five-Run Sixth Inning Powers Patriots to 8-2 Win Over Baysox
EL Somerset Patriots

Five-Run Sixth Inning Powers Patriots to 8-2 Win Over Baysox

Published on May 22, 2026 under Eastern League (EL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Somerset Patriots' Tyler Hardman at bat
Somerset Patriots' Tyler Hardman at bat
(Somerset Patriots)

The Somerset Patriots beat the Chesapeake Baysox 8-2 at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, MD on Friday night.

Somerset exploded for five runs off seven hits in the sixth inning. It was the 12th time this season the Patriots have scored five or more runs in an inning. Somerset had just eight innings of five-plus runs last season.

The sixth inning included Somerset recording six consecutive hits with Jackson Castillo, Tyler Hardman, Coby Morales and DJ Gladney stringing four consecutive RBI singles.

With 10 plate appearances for the Patriots in the sixth inning, it marked the 10th time this season the Patriots have recorded double digit plate appearances in a single inning.

With Tyler Hardman's homer in the eighth inning, Somerset has homered in eight straight games and 22 of its last 25. The Patriots' 76 home runs this season leads Double-A and ranks third in MiLB. Somerset's 76 home runs in the first 43 games of the season are a Double-A record in the Research Tool Era (since 2005).

Somerset's 243 home run pace through 43 games is on track to beat Somerset's Double-A Research Tool Era-record 205 home runs in 2021. The 243 home run pace would rank third-most in MiLB in the Research Tool Era (ELP 2019: 258, LV 2019: 250).

With four extra base hits in the game, Somerset has an extra base hit in all 43 games this season. Surpassing Somerset's 42-game XBH streak 5/28/24 - 7/14/24, the 43-game XBH streak is the longest in franchise history. At the time of the game ending, it is the longest streak in the Eastern League, longest in Double-A and second-longest in MiLB.

Somerset's pitching staff registered 12 strikeouts, notching double-digit punchouts for the fifth consecutive game and 13th time in the last 14 games. Somerset's 11.3 K/9 leads Double-A and is tied for fifth in Minor League Baseball (Full Season).

RHP Jack Cebert (3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K) notched his fourth consecutive Double-A start with six-plus strikeouts. Cebert punched out five of the first seven batters he faced across scoreless first and second innings, including three consecutive punchouts to end the first frame.

Across four Double-A outings, Cebert has 20 K to eight walks in 19.2 IP, while striking out 30.6% of batters. He leads all Yankees farmhands with a 2.61 ERA, .184 BAA and 0.92 WHIP across all levels this year.

CF Jace Avina (1-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 R) extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a double in the sixth inning. His active 21-game on-base streak ranks second in the Eastern League and is tied with DJ Gladney for the longest by a Patriot this season. During the streak, Avina is slashing .318/.406/.693 with eight HR, 19 RBI and 17 XBH. He's raised his OPS from .629 to .895 in that span.

RF Garrett Martin (1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) belted a two-RBI double in the ninth inning for his third consecutive game with multiple RBI. Martin's 35 RBI rank third in the Eastern League and are tied for fifth in Double-A.

3B Tyler Hardman (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) smashed his 13th home run of the season with a leadoff blast in the eighth inning. He extended his hit streak to six games and on-base streak to eight games.

Over the last five games, Hardman is 6-for-21 with four home runs and eight RBI. In 15 career games at Prince George's Stadium dating back to 2023, Hardman is hitting .298/.388/.807 with 17 hits, nine HR and 18 RBI. Hardman's 10 HR in May lead MiLB and are more than any MLB hitter.

1B Coby Morales (1-for-4, RBI) cranked a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning. Morales' 37 RBI rank second-most in the Eastern League, are third in the Yankees farm system and tied for third in Double-A.

C Manny Palencia (2-for-4) notched his third multi-hit game of the season. In his last five games, Palencia is 5-for-16 with two walks.

2B Connor McGinnis (1-for-2, RBI, BB) recorded his first career Double-A XBH and RBI with a double in the sixth inning. McGinnis has hits in back-to-back games for the first time in his Double-A career.

Check out the Somerset Patriots Statistics

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Somerset Patriots' Tyler Hardman at bat
Somerset Patriots' Tyler Hardman at bat
   



Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2026


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