Somerset Outlasts Sugar Land In 5-4 Win
Sugar Land, Texas- The Somerset Patriots (20-12, 55-40) rallied past two separate deficits to defeat the Sugar Land Skeeters (21-10, 62-32) 5-4 Saturday night at Constellation Field.
The Skeeters took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out RBI single from Matt Chavez in the bottom of the first inning. Somerset answered immediately in the next half inning on back-to-back two-out RBI base hits from Justin Trapp and Mike Fransoso. That gave the Patriots a 2-1 lead.
Sugar Land responded in the bottom of the third on a Juan Silverio RBI single to even that game at 2-2. An RBI triple from Javier Betancourt and an run-scoring single from Barrett Barnes in the bottom of the fourth put the Skeeters back in front 4-2.
Somerset rallied to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning. The first five batters all reached on singles to begin the inning, including an RBI single from Yovan Gonzalez and a two-run base hit from Justin Pacchioli to put the Patriots in front 5-4.
The final 11 Skeeters batters were set down in order – including two scoreless innings from Mike Antonini – to finish the night and end the Patriots’ four-game losing skid.
“I really liked how we came from behind twice tonight,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “The game was always within reach. We always felt that we had a good chance fi we kept it close with some good ABs. We did well to get a couple of those early runs tonight and then had that big sixth inning that was the difference.”
Duane Below (7-4) earned the win after he allowed four runs on 12 hits over six innings. Pack Rodriguez (0-1) yielded three runs on five hits over one-third of an inning to take the loss. Ryan Kelly (16) tossed a one-two-three ninth inning to earn the save.
The Patriots and Skeeters continue their seven-game series Sunday night. Somerset right-hander Kyle Davies (5-6, 3,71 ERA) takes the mound against Sugar Land righty Matt Sergey (4-5, 4.06 ERA). First pitch at Constellation Field is set for 6:05 p.m. CST (7:05 p.m. EST).
The 2018 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford continues on the road until Friday, August 17th when the Patriots return to TD Bank Ballpark for an 7:05 p.m. game against the York Revolution. The game includes a postgame fireworks show. For tickets, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
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