The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots (9-3) defeated the Road Warriors (4-8) 7-6 in the second game of a day-night double header at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday evening.
The Road Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on two errors.
Somerset cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the frame courtesy of an Adam Weisenburger RBI single.
The Patriots tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI triple by Mike Fransoso, who finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Alex Castellanos gave Somerset the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, but the Road Warriors answered with two runs to reclaim the lead in the top of the sixth inning on Gustavo Pierre’s RBI double and an RBI single by Jorge Fernandez-Diaz.
Somerset scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, tying the game on a solo home run by Aaron Dudley (1) and taking the lead on a two-run bases loaded single by Kyle Roller.
“We were grinding out at bats that inning. I got up with the opportunity and was in a good hitter’s count,” said Roller. “I tried to take advantage of a guy bringing some good heat and got the barrel there and did my job. Overall it was a great day.”
The Road Warriors once again answered, scoring on an error in the top of the seventh inning to cut the lead to 6-5.
The Patriots got a run in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Alfredo Rodriguez for a 7-5 advantage.
The Road Warriors cut the lead to a run on a solo home run by Osvaldo Martinez (1) for the 7-6 final.
Cory Riordan (1-0) earned the win, allowing four runs- three earned- on six hits and five strikeouts in six innings pitched. Matthew Smith (0-1) suffered loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Dustin Antolin got his second save of the season.
The 2018 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford continues at home on Thursday, May 10th with a 6:35 pm game against the Road Warriors. For tickets, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
