Somerset Takes First Half Title with Extra Innings Win
June 26, 2022 - Eastern League (EL)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Somerset, New Jersey - Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe hit a walk-off two-run run home run in the 10th inning on Sunday afternoon, leading the Somerset Patriots to a 5-4 victory against the Hartford Yard Goats at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, New Jersey. The victory clinched the Eastern League's Northeast Division first half title and earned Somerset a spot in the playoffs in September. The Yard Goats have a chance to make the 2022 playoffs by winning the second half which begins on Tuesday as Hartford hosts the New York Mets affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman hurled the seventh inning for Somerset, and retired the Yard Goats in order. Ezequiel Tovar had his 11-game hit-streak come to an end, going 0-5 with an RBI.
Both starting pitchers were dominant and the game was scoreless after six innings. Somerset starter Luis Medina pitched around a pair of walks in the first inning and Hartford starter Noah Davis allowed just three singles in the first six innings. Davis retired seven consecutive batters from the fourth through six innings.
Somerset scored four runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-0 lead. The first two batters reached on a hit batter and walk, and then Anthony Volpe was hit by a pitch, scoring Jeisson Rosario to make it 1-0 Patriots. Elijah Dunham followed with a three-run double, scoring Jesus Bastidas, Mickey Gasper and Volpe and it was 4-0.
The Yard Goats tied the game with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Brenton Doyle reached first base on an error and scored on Willie MacIver's RBI double to make it 4-1. Niko Decolani followed with a run-scoring single, bringing in MacIver and it was 4-2. Later in the inning, Jimmy Herron smashed a two-run double, and Decolati and Isaac Collins scored to tie the game. The hit game off reliever Josh Maciejeweski. Neither team scored in the ninth inning and the game was sent into the 10th inning for the second time this week.
Hartford took a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning, on Tovar's RBI grounder, which scored Decolati. Somerset responded in the bottom of the 10th inning. Shortstop Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer over the left field fence off closer Gavin Hollowell for the 6-5 win. It was Volpe's 10th homer of the season.
The Yard Goats begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday night (7:05 PM) against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. RHP Karl Kauffmann will start for Hartford, and Mets veteran Max Scherzer is scheduled to start for the Rumble Ponies on a MLB rehab assignment. The broadcast can be heard on AM 1410 WPOP and FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app. The Yard Goats return to Dunkin' Donuts Park on Tuesday, June 28th (7:05 PM) and will host the New York Mets affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
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Final: Somerset 5, Hartford 4
WP- Brett Loseke (6-0)
LP- Gavin Hollowell (3-2)
T-2:43
A-4,851
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