AtL Somerset Patriots

Patriots Split Twinbill to Close First Half

Published on July 10, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Central Islip, NY - The Somerset Patriots and Long Island Ducks each took a game in a first half-closing doubleheader on Sunday night at Bethpage Ballpark as the Ducks took the first game 3-1 and the Patriots nabbed the nightcap 7-2.

Long Island got up on Kevin Reese early, getting back-to-back solo homers from the first two hitters Kennard Jones and Ray Navarette. Reese (2-3) allowed another 1st-inning hit but got a double play to end the frame and for the next few frames would settle in nicely. Reese would not allow a hit in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th. Dan Lyons would single to lead off the 6th and Jones would triple him home. Reese racked up a quality start, going the complete 6.0 innings, yielding the three runs on five hits. The complete game was the seventh of Reese's career.

The lone Patriots run came on a Jeff Nettles solo homer in the 2nd against Ruddy Lugo. Lugo (3-1) tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits. The Patriots hit into three double plays in the game, including one to finish the contest against Ehren Wassermann who notched the save (5).

The Patriots stormed back in the night cap, getting a two-run double from John Pachot in the 2nd off Chris McCoy. McCoy (1-1) would load the bases in the 4th without recording an out when Matt Hagen ripped a two-run double to left giving Somerset a 4-0 lead before Norris Hopper added a sacrifice fly. McCoy finished 4.0 innings, allowing five earned runs. Nettles drove in a run in the 5th while Josh Pressley smacked a homer in the 7th.

A committee effort by the Patriots pitching staff held the Ducks in check with Jason Cromer - making his first appearance since June 15 - throwing a scoreless 1st to set the tone. Casey Cahill yielded a run in the 2nd but Luke Sommer (1-2) tossed a couple of scoreless innings as did Jason Anderson and Jeff Kennard. Andrew Dobies allowed a run in the 7th, the first earned run against him in 18.1 innings pitched.

Somerset (26-37) settles for its first sub-.500 first half since 2003 but reloads for the second half of the 2011 Atlantic League season beginning Friday. The Patriots will kick off the latter stanza with a seven-game homestand, opening with three against the Camden Riversharks.

NOTES: Nettles entered the day 6-for-his-last-60. He went 4-5 with a homer, two RBI, and two walks on the doubleheader...Hagen entered the day 3-for-his-last-42...this is the first sub-.500 first half for the Patriots since 2003. Somerset would, however, win the Atlantic League championship that year.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 10, 2011


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