The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots (21-13) defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters (23-13) 5-2 before 7,044 fans at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday afternoon.
The Patriots broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Somerset loaded up the bases on two walks and a single by Justin Trapp before Alfredo Rodriguez cleared the bases with a three-run double to make the score 3-0.
“I really tip my cap to [Craig Massey] the at bat before to load the bases with a tough at bat and putting the pressure on [Skeeters starting pitcher James Russell],” said Rodriguez. “I was just looking for a pitch early that I could do some damage with. In this game, sometimes you hit the ball where they ain’t and that’s the key to the game.”
The Skeeters got on the board in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Anthony Giansanti (4) that cut the lead to 3-1.
The Patriots extended the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Julio Borbon.
Sugar Land answered in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Kyle Kubitza (4) that made the score 4-2.
Somerset scored again in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-2 advantage on a Justin Pacchioli RBI triple.
Rick Teasley (1-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits and six strikeouts in six innings pitched. Russell (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits in three innings pitched. Dustin Molleken earned his first save of the season with a scoreless inning pitched.
The 2018 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford will continue on the road until Tuesday, June 12th when the Patriots return home to take on the York Revolution at 7:05 pm. For tickets, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
