AtL Somerset Patriots

Patriots hang on for 7-6 win

Published on August 8, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


CENTRAL ISLIP , NY- The Somerset Patriots defeated the Long Island Ducks 7-6 in front of 6,304 fans at Citibank Park on Friday evening.

Somerset broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Centerfielder Mike Rodriguez lined a one out single up the middle and moved to second on a single to left by shortstop Anthony Granato. Rodriguez then scampered home on a Ducks' throwing error on a fielder's choice ground ball to second off the bat of designated hitter Josh Pressley. After a single to center by second baseman Matt Hagen, third baseman Jeff Nettles ripped a two out RBI single to left that plated Pressley.

The Patriots added two runs in the top of the fourth inning to make it 4-0 when rightfielder Joe Burke slugged a two run home run (1) over the right field wall after catcher Travis Anderson lined a lead off single to right.

Long Island responded by plating two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Patriots' lead to 4-2. Shortstop Juan Francia and second baseman Ray Navarrete led off with back-to-back singles to left. Designated hitter George Lombard then followed with an RBI single to left center that scored Francia and after a fly out, rightfielder Jose Herrera plated Navarrete with a sacrifice fly to right center.

Somerset answered with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 6-2. Pressley led off by reaching on a Ducks' throwing error an advanced to second when Hagen followed by lining a single to left. After a fly out to right advanced the runners, first baseman Teuris Olivares ripped a one out RBI single to left to score Pressley and then Anderson lined a single to left that plated Hagen.

The Ducks got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 6-3 when centerfielder Lew Ford led off with a single to left center, moved to second on a one out single to center by catcher Rob Sandora and after a wild pitch, scored on an RBI ground out to second by leftfielder Johnny Hernandez.

The Patriots added an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to make it 7-3 when Hagen hit a lead off single to left, stole second and came around to score on a Ducks' fielding error following a double down the right field line by Nettles.

Long Island rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the Patriots' lead to 7-6. The Ducks loaded the bases on a bunt single to third by Hernandez, a single to right by Francia and a hit by pitch to Navarrete. Lombard then walked to force in Hernandez and after a pop out, Herrera walked to force in Francia. Ford then drove in Navarrete with a one out RBI ground out to first.

Patriots' starter Chris Buglovsky (2-1) picked up the win, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out none and walking one in seven plus innings of work. Ducks' starter Troy Cate (7-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on twelve hits while walking one and striking out three in five innings pitched. Patriots' closer Bret Prinz pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 11th save of the season.

With the win the Patriots improved to 19-9 in the second half and 62-36 overall while the Ducks dropped to 12-15 and 49-48 overall.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 8, 2009


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