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EL Somerset Patriots

Three Homers Not Enough to Overcome Reading in Sunday Series Finale

April 28, 2024 - Eastern League (EL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Somerset Patriots catcher Ben Rice rounds the bases
Somerset Patriots catcher Ben Rice rounds the bases
(Somerset Patriots)

The Somerset Patriots were defeated by the Reading Fightin' Phils in their Sunday afternoon series by a final score of 6-3 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The loss confirmed Somerset's second series loss of the season out of four series played. Each of the Patriots' two series losses have come in their two road trips to this point, in the same sequence (L-L-L-W-W-L).

Somerset's offense was made up of three separate go-ahead solo home runs, in the first, fifth and sixth innings.

RHP Zach Messinger (5.0. IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR) started for the Patriots and did not factor into a decision, despite leaving on the winning end of a 3-2 score entering the sixth inning.

3B Jon Berti (0-for-3, 2 K) started for the Patriots at third base in game one of his rehab assignment (left groin strain) for the Yankees. Berti played five innings in the field at third base and made two clean putouts.

SS Ben Cowles (1-for-4, RBI, R, HR, K) gave the Patriots their final run of offense with a two-out, solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.

Cowles ends the day remaining the Eastern League leader in AVG (.356) and OBP (.442), XBH (13) and doubles (8, T-1st). He's also tied for the Eastern League lead with 26 hits and 47 total bases.

He ranks second in the Eastern League with a .644 SLG and 1.086 OPS, while tying for fourth in runs with 14.

Cowles ends the series in Reading having gone 8-for-20 with 7 RBI, 5 R and hit his first three Double-A home runs.

With homers on Saturday and Sunday, Cowles has now homered in back-to-back games for the second time in his minor league career (April 12-13, 2023 with High-A Hudson Valley vs. Aberdeen).

C Ben Rice (1-for-4, RBI, R, HR, K) opened up the scoring in the first inning with his sixth home run of the season.

The homer marked Rice's second first inning, leadoff home run of the season (April 5 vs. Richmond, also on the second pitch).

Now with six home runs, Rice trails only his teammate Agustin Ramirez for the Eastern League lead. For the first time this season, Rice holds sole possession of the most runs scored in the Eastern League with 17.

Rice also ranks among the Eastern League leaders with 41 TB (3rd), 13 BB (T-4th), 9 XBH (6th), a .526 SLG (8th) and .902 OPS (8th).

RF Jared Wegner (1-for-3, RBI, R, HR, BB, K) gave the Patriots a 2-1 lead with his third homer of the season to lead off the fifth inning.

Wegner's homer was clocked at a 116.8 mph exit velocity, setting a new personal record in the minor leagues. It's his second home run this season to be clocked at 116+ mph, after his first home run on 4/12 @NH came in at 116.3 mph off the bat.

The homer extended Wegner's Eastern League-best hit streak to 12 games. Over the 12 games, which began with Wegner's first homer of the season, he is now 14-for-45 (.311 AVG) with 9 RBI, 8 R and 3 HR.

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Somerset Patriots catcher Ben Rice rounds the bases
Somerset Patriots catcher Ben Rice rounds the bases
   



Eastern League Stories from April 28, 2024


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