EL Somerset Patriots

Rice, Ramirez Back-to-Back Blasts Back Somerset's Fourth Straight Opening Day Victory

Published on April 5, 2024 under Eastern League (EL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Somerset Patriots celebrate win
Somerset Patriots celebrate win
(Somerset Patriots)

The Somerset Patriots took down the Richmond Flying Squirrels by a score of 5-4 on Opening Day, propelled by back-to-back homers from Patriots' Ben Rice and Agustin Ramirez, the first two hitters of the ballgame.

In four seasons as the Yankees Double-A affiliate, the Patriots are 4-0 on Opening Day with wins over Richmond (2024), Harrisburg (2023, 2021), and Reading (2022).

RHP Zach Messinger (5.2 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 K) took the no-decision in his second career Double-A start.

Over his first two Double-A starts, the first of which came on 9/14/23 @NH, Messinger has allowed 4 ER over 9.2 IP with 13 K and 2 BB.

RHP Luis Velasquez (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K) earned the win in his Double-A debut, tossing 2 shutout IP in relief with 3 K.

INF Max Burt accounted for the game-winning hit, an RBI double in the 6th inning which provided the Patriots with a 5-4 lead.

Burt's 95 career RBIs with Somerset are the most by a Patriot in the Double-A era. Burt is the only player in Patriots history to start three Opening Day games (2022, 2023, 2024), over which he's 3-for-7 with 2 RBI.

DH Ben Rice led off the ballgame with a solo blast on the second pitch of the 1st inning. Rice now has 17 HR in 49 career games with Somerset dating back to last season.

The leadoff blast marked the second time over the past four seasons that the first batter of the season for Somerset homered (Estevan Florial, 2021).

C Agustin Ramirez went back-to-back with Rice, giving Somerset a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. The solo blast marked Ramirez' fourth with Somerset dating back to last season. Ramirez bashed a career-high 18 HR last season, three times his previous career total of six.

CF Grant Richardson finished his night 3-for-4 with 1 R, 1 RBI, giving Somerset a 3-0 lead with an RBI single in the 1st inning.

Friday marked Richardson's third three-hit game in 16 games with Somerset, and his sixth multi-hit game as a Patriot.

Over 16 career games with Somerset dating back to last season, Richardson is 21-for-57 (.368) with 5 HR, 12 RBI, and 11 R.

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Somerset Patriots celebrate win
Somerset Patriots celebrate win
   



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