The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
York, PA – The Somerset Patriots (11-7, 49-39) won their fifth game in a row as they led wire-to-wire against the York Revolution (8-9, 48-39) in the series opener Monday night from PeoplesBank Park. Somerset scored five first inning runs and cruised the rest of the way to a 10-3 victory.
“We feel really good right now,” said fourth year left fielder Aharon Eggleston as the Patriots have scored 28 runs on 37 hits in their last three games. “We are getting guys on, getting guys over, getting guys in. We have comfort in knowing if we don’t get it done, the guy behind us will get it done. Any team that doesn’t win the first half has to make changes so they can have a chance. I like the way our new pieces have come together.”
In the top of the first inning Somerset scored five runs on four hits and three walks. Eric Farris hit an RBI sacrifice fly. Another run crossed on right fielder Jared Mitchel’s fielding error. The Patriots also received a two RBI single from Carlos Guzman and an RBI single from Luis Mateo.
Brian Van Kirk launched an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to extend the lead to 6-0. Another run would cross home via a passed ball from catcher Keith Castillo.
York struck for three runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Mitchel ripped an RBI triple and eventually scored on Farris’ throwing error. Kevin Rivers cranked a solo home run (2) later on in the frame, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
The Patriots would get those three runs back in the ensuing half inning. Eggleston clubbed a home run (5), his first since May 27th. Van Kirk and Guzman would tally RBI groundouts to make the score 10-3 which would be the final.
Will Oliver (1-1) earned the win, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out six batters. He walked two and yielded four hits on 98 pitches.
“I was relying on my fastball and my changeup was better than it normally is so I was trusting that,” said Oliver who picked up his first win in six starts. “I actually felt better [after the 62 minute rain delay in the 5th inning]. I felt stronger coming out of it so that was surprisingly good.”
Micah Owings (3-4) labored and sustained the loss. He yielded five runs on four hits in five innings of work.
The 2016 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford continues on the road until Thursday, July 28th when team returns to TD Bank Ballpark for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Bridgeport Bluefish. For tickets, call 908-252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com. Download our Mobile App for free in the Apple or Android App store.
