AtL Somerset Patriots

Late Rally Falls Short as Gordon's Streak Ends

Published on July 22, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Waldorf, MD - Derrick Gordon's six-start win streak was snapped and Jim Ed Warden survived a 9th-inning rally as the Somerset Patriots fell to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 5-3 on Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium.

A pair of all-stars dueled with Michael Schlact getting into an early hole. A Joe Holden sacrifice fly in the 3rd gave Somerset the advantage before a 4th-inning Jeff Nettles homer - his 16th in 41 career games against Southern Maryland - put the Patriots up 2-0. But the visitors would not score on Schlact (5-1) again. The 6'7" righty locked in for 7.0 frames, yielding just five hits.

Meanwhile, Gordon (6-1) was solid off the blocks, facing the minimum in his first three frames before a Kody Kirkland RBI double and a run-scoring groundout from Ben Harrison leveled the game at 2-2. Gordon gave up a leadoff walk to Bridger Hunt in the 6th before he would steal second and come home to score on a bunt single from Brian Barton. A Nettles throwing error allowed Hunt to cross the plate, putting the Crabs up 3-2. Gordon finished off the inning, going 6.0 frames and allowing just three runs. Both men who walked against Gordon scored in the game, a quality start for the left-hander who was pitching away from home for just the second time.

Southern Maryland added two runs off Casey Cahill in the 7th before Luke Sommer finished the night with 1.1 scoreless innings. The Patriots would threaten late in the game, though. Steve Palazzolo put two men on with one out in the 8th before Warden stepped in and got pinch-hitter Fernando Cortez to hit into a fielder's choice. Holden came too far around the 3rd on the play and broke for home, surrendering an inning-ending tag. Warden saw the bases loaded in the 9th with one out as John Pachot lifted a fly ball deep enough to score Nettles but would retire Dan DeGeorge to end the game, securing Southern Maryland's first win since the all-star break.

Somerset (3-6, 29-43) and Southern Maryland (1-7, 37-34) square off in the rubber game on Saturday night. Nic Ungs (3-5, 4.54) battles all-star Nick Green (5-4, 4.25) with coverage beginning at 6:30 pm on 1450 WCTC-AM and www.wctcam.com.

Check out the Somerset Patriots Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from July 22, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central