Sports stats



AtL Somerset Patriots

Somerset Patriots Playoff Press Newsletter: Liberty Division Series

September 22, 2016 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Somerset Patriots Playoff Press Newsletter: Liberty Division Series Game 2 Preview
Somerset Patriots Playoff Press Newsletter: Liberty Division Series Game 2 Preview
(Somerset Patriots)

Bridgewater, NJ - Scott Kelly hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the Somerset Patriots (1-0, 77-63) to a 3-2 win over the Long Island Ducks (0-1, 72-68) in Game 1 of the Liberty Division Series at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday evening.

"I'm just trying to get on base," said Kelly, whose second professional home run was tonight's game-winner. "We're going to grind out wins. That's how it is has to be against Long Island. We had great pitching and put up runs early. The home run was just another piece of the puzzle."

Click Here For Liberty Division Series Game 1 Recap!

Click Here For Liberty Division Series Game 1 Box Score!

Liberty Division Game 2 Pitching Match Up At TD Bank Ballpark

Nik Turley

LHP

Record: 5-1

ERA: 2.02

SO: 66

IP: 49.0

Matt Larkins

RHP

Record: 1-0

ERA: 3.21

SO: 10

IP: 14.0

Players To Watch This Series

David Vidal

3B

Went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to start the scoring early in Game 1. Finished the regular season 2nd in home runs in the Atlantic League with 26.

Fehlandt Lentini

OF

Played in all 140 games this season and finished with a .313 batting average, 108 runs scored, 179 hits, and 75 RBI.

Carlos Guzman

RF

Hit the go-ahead RBI double in the 6th inning of Game 1. Finished the regular season with 12 home runs and 58 RBI to go with a .264 average in 111 games.

Delta Cleary Jr.

OF

Finished the season with a team best .321 batting average and had 130 hits, 51 runs, and 52 RBI in 108 games played.

Scott Kelly

SS

Hit the game-winning walk off home run in the 11th inning in Game 1. The home run was just his 2nd of his professional baseball career.

Ruben Gotay

INF

Hit .275, scored 41 times, had 100 hits, 7 home runs, and 63 RBI in 363 at bats over 107 games played. He also led the team in walks.

Aharon Eggleston

LF

Drew 2 walks and scored the first run of Game 1 on the David Vidal double. The 3-time All-Star hit .310 in the regular season with 55 RBI

Cody Puckett

INF

Finished the season with a .272 batting average over 119 games where he had 120 hits, 9 home runs, and 72 RBI (2nd on the team).

How The Teams Got Here

The Somerset Patriots (77-63) clinched their playoff berth by winning the Liberty Division Second Half Championship with a 39-31 record. For the third-straight season, the Somerset Patriots had the best- overall record in the league and will be making their fourth-straight playoff appearance under manager Brett Jodie.

Somerset was second in ERA (3.90), led the league in fielding (.981), and finished third in batting (.272). The team topped the league in runs scored (694), RBI (641), and stolen bases (166). The pitching staff also led the league in strikeouts (1,080) and had the fewest errors (99) for the season.

After a league record start of 13-0, the Somerset Patriots fell short in the first half of the season by just two games. From August 15th on, the Somerset Patriots were either in first place or within 0.5 game of the second half Liberty Division lead.

The Somerset Patriots are looking to defend their Atlantic League Championship title from 2015.

The Long Island Ducks (72-68) clinched a spot in the postseason by winning the Liberty Division First Half Championship with a 40-30 record. The Ducks are led by fifth-year manager Kevin Baez and they are making their second consecutive trip to the post-season. The Ducks were a wild card in 2015 and were eliminated in the first round in a five-game series by Somerset.

The Ducks led the league in ERA (3.87), finished fourth in batting (.270), and were tied for third in fielding (.978). Long Island finished second in strikeouts (1,076).

Having already clinched a playoff spot with the first half win, Long Island finished the second half 32-38, but played well in the final weeks of the season.

Follow The Playoffs On Our Mobile App

2016 Playoff Schedule

Liberty Division Series:

Game 1: Ducks 2 SOMERSET 3 (11 Innings) Patriots Lead Series 1-0

Game 2: Thursday, September 22nd Long Island Ducks at Somerset Patriots- TD Bank Ballpark at 7:05 pm

Game 3: Friday, September 23rd Somerset Patriots at Long Island Ducks at 6:35 pm

Game 4: Saturday, September 24th Somerset Patriots at Long Island Ducks at 6:35 pm (If Necessary)

Game 5: Sunday, September 25th Somerset Patriots at Long Island Ducks at 5:05 pm (If Necessary)

*If The Somerset Patriots Advance To Championship Series:

Atlantic League Championship Series:

Game 1: Wednesday, September 28th Somerset Patriots at York/Sugar Land

Game 2: Thursday, September 29th Somerset Patriots at York/Sugar Land

Game 3: Friday, September 30th York/Sugar Land at Somerset Patriots at 7:05 pm

Game 4: Saturday, October 1st York/Sugar Land at Somerset Patriots at 7:05 pm (If Necessary)

Game 5: Sunday, October 2nd York/Sugar Land at Somerset Patriots at 1:05 pm (If Necessary)

Teams' Playoff History

6 Atlantic League Championships:

2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2015

10 Division Championships:

1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015

17 Half Championships:

1999, 2000 (2x), 2001 (2x), 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 (2x), 2010, 2014 (2x), 2015 (2x), 2016

Wild Card: 2013

Playoff Records:

Overall: 42-30

Division Series: 22-11

Championship Series: 21-19

Elimination Games: 11-6

3 Atlantic League Championship:

2004, 2012, 2013

4 Division Championships:

2006, 2011, 2012, 2013

11 Half Championships:

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 (2x), 2012, 2013, 2016

Wild Card: 2015

Playoff Records:

Overall: 26-26

Division Series: 16-19

Championship Series: 10-7

Elimination Games: 8-7

Check out the Somerset Patriots Statistics




Images from this story

Somerset Patriots Playoff Press Newsletter: Liberty Division Series Game 2 Preview
Somerset Patriots Playoff Press Newsletter: Liberty Division Series Game 2 Preview
   



Atlantic League Stories from September 22, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central