AtL Somerset Patriots

Patriots Hold on for 8-7 Win

Published on July 25, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Newark, NJ - Another wild contest took place at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Saturday night but this time it was the Somerset Patriots withstanding a late surge to pick up an 8-7 win over the Newark Bears.

The Bears scored three runs in the final frame and had the tying run at third against Ben Grezlovski but the submariner got Daryle Ward to ground to end the game, securing the win and Grezlovski's second save this year. Trailing 8-4 into the bottom of the 9th, the first four Bears tallied base hits, scoring two runs against Ryan Houston who failed to record an out for the first time this year. Grezlovski came on to face Pablo Ozuna who attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt with two on but ended up reaching safely to load the bases. James Cooper sent a fly ball to right field that Noah Hall tracked down. Randy Gress came in to score the third Newark run of the frame and Kennard Jones advanced to third, but Ozuna took off for second and was cut down by Hall for the second out, setting up the Ward groundout.

The Patriots got a pair of monster insurance runs in the top of the 9th against James ODonnell. The Newark all-star was into his fourth inning of relief when he gave up a bloop single to Tim Raines Jr. and walked Wayne Lydon. Both were sacrificed over by Joe Burke, pushing O'Donnell out in favor of Greg Reinhard. After Jeff Nettles struck out, Josh Pressley banged a two-strike single back up the middle to score two, giving Somerset an 8-4 lead.

The Patriots scored six unanswered runs in the middle innings and maintained a 6-1 lead until Brian Barton smacked his second homer of the game in the 8th. Barton had homered in the 2nd inning to give Newark the early advantage until Somersets offense dominated through the 6th. Barton came up with Ozuna and Ward on base against Casey Cahill who was in his fifth inning of relief. Cahill (2-4) entered the game in the 4th and danced in and out of trouble, putting runners on in every inning but inducing three double play balls to wiggle out of jams. Barton had hit into two double plays in his previous two trips to the plate, but this time went the other way, just barely clearing the wall in right-center field to bring the Bears within three at 6-4. Barton was the last man that Cahill faced after 4.2 innings of relief, allowing six hits and three runs, walking three but inducing three twin-killings.

A pair of hurlers made their respective club debuts as Bill Pulsipher made his first Patriot start and Bob Zimmermann took the ball for Newark after coming over in a trade earlier in the week from York. Pulsipher tossed the first 3.0 innings, yielding just the Barton solo shot and Kennard Jones single. Zimmermann (7-2) surrendered just two hits in the first three innings but dealt a walk to Hall to start the 4th. Hall advanced two bases on two wild pitches and Pete LaForest drove him home on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. But Elliott Ayala, Raines, and Lydon belted two-out base hits to bring home two more tallies. Hall came back up with Nettles on base in the 5th and launched his second homer in as many nights, giving Somerset a 5-1 lead. Zimmermann left after 5.0 innings, giving up seven hits, walking two and striking out using 96 pitches. Lydon served a two-out homer to right field off ODonnell in the 6th, giving Somerset its largest lead at five.

Somerset (6-10, 42-44) looks for a series win against Newark (7-9, 28-58) on Sunday when Josh Miller (7-6, 3.52) takes the ball for the Patriots. Mike Loree (3-7, 6.20) makes his second start this year against Somerset when coverage begins at 5:55 pm on 1450 WCTC-AM and online at www.wctcam.com and www.somersetpatriots.com.

NOTES: The Hall homer was his 4th of the year. After starting the second half 6-33, Hall is 4-12 in the series with two homers and 4 RBI. The Patriot right fielder also picked up two outfield assists, bringing his total on the season to seven...Pressley and LaForest have combined for 34 RBI in the last 19 games...Lydons homer was his 4th, one of his three hits. It is Lydon's 8th multi-hit game in the last 14 outings...Grezlovski's save was the 83rd of his pro career...the game marked the fifth time in 13 meetings this year that the clubs have played a one-run game. The Patriots have won four of those five games...the start was Pulsipher's fifth against Newark in his career. The veteran Major Leaguer has pitched in five different Atlantic League seasons.

The Somerset Patriots 2010 Season presented by Ford will continue on the road until Friday, July 30th when the Patriots return to TD Bank Ballpark for a 7:05 pm game against the Bridgeport Bluefish. The game includes a Post Game Fireworks Show presented by Carrier Clinic. Great seats are available by stopping by the Patriots Ticket Office located at TD Bank Ballpark, by calling (908) 252-0700, or on-line at www.somersetpatriots.com.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 25, 2010


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