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AtL Somerset Patriots

Patriots Comeback Falls One Run Short

September 11, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Bridgeport, CT - The Somerset Patriots trailed 9-0 after four innings, chased 15-8 in the 9th and scored six runs in the final frame before the valiant comeback was halted as the Bridgeport Bluefish won the opener of a three-game series 15-14 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Friday night.

Joe Burke's three-run two-out double in the 9th cut the deficit to one against Chris Rivera. Rivera saw nine Patriots bat in the inning before being pulled for closer Jorge Julio. With the tying run at second and Jeff Nettles at the plate, Julio struck out the Patriots slugger to end a marathon contest. Only two of the six runs in the 9th were earned after shortstop Brandon Chaves muffed a two-out grounder, allowing the third Patriot run of the inning to score before Burke smacked the bases-clearing double.

Starters Kevin Mannix and Josh Miller both factored into the decision after Somerset got down early 9-0. A six-run 4th against Miller (12-9) put the Patriots in a hole while Mannix (11-6) allowed just two baserunners in his first five frames. Miller finished just 3.1 innings, his second-shortest start of the season, allowing 10 hits and nine runs.

The Patriots cut into the lead in the 6th with two-RBI base hits from Josh Pressley and Jason Belcher along with a Nettles run-scoring single. The Patriots sent nine men to the plate against Mannix before he was pulled after 5.2 frames, yielding seven hits and five runs.

Danny Putnam's three-run homer in the bottom of the frame, following two Casey Cahill walks put Bridgeport back in front by seven before Somerset answered in the 7th with three across against Luis Arroyo, highlighted by a Noah Hall two-run single.

Travis Minix tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in his 2010 Patriot debut to bridge the game to the 8th where the Bluefish scored three times on Carlos Hines, who walked three in the inning, to take a 15-8 lead to the 9th before Somerset fell one run shy of an improbable comeback.

Somerset (35-27, 71-61) and Bridgeport (43-19, 79-53) continue the series on Saturday as Joel Kirsten (0-0, 0.00) makes his 2010 debut for Somerset against Esteban Yan (3-0, 3.70).

NOTES: With a Lancaster Barnstormer loss, the Patriots magic number to clinch the Freedom Division is four...Nettles extended his hit streak to a Patriot season-high 11 games.

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