The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots (6-0) swept the Long Island Ducks (2-4) in a double header on Wednesday afternoon at TD Bank Ballpark.
Game 1:
Carlos Guzman hit a game-winning walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Ducks 2-1 in the first game.
“He ended up throwing me a straight fastball. I know he has good stuff and he threw a pitch that was up and I put a decent swing on it,” said Guzman.
Justin Pacchioli led off the 11th inning with a single down the right field line. Zach Lutz followed with a walk to move Pacchioli into scoring position for Guzman who ended the game with the single up the middle.
The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out RBI double by Alex Burg.
The Patriots tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Guzman, who delivered both RBI in the game for Somerset.
Duane Below (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings pitched. Tyler Wilson (0-1) took the loss, allowing a run on two hits, including Guzman’s walk-off.
Game 2:
The Patriots took the second game in ten innings, winning on a walk-off wild pitch that allowed Tyler Bortnick to score on Scott Kelly’s at bat.
“You always end up with a tight game with these two teams. We know it is always going to be a battle when we face them and it was again today,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Somerset rallied for a run on an RBI double by Olmo Rosario that extended the game.
Long Island broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run by Nate Freiman (3).
“There was some timely hitting on both sides late in the ballgame. They answered, we answered back. It was a good back-and-forth ballgame, but good to come out on top,” Jodie added.
The Ducks took the early lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Marc Krauss.
Long Island starter John Brownell cruised into the seventh inning when Somerset tied up the game on an RBI single by Alfredo Rodriguez that forced extra innings.
Alex Gouin (1-0) picked up the win, allowing a run in two innings of work. Zac Treece (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing a run in the final inning.
The 2017 Somerset Patriots Season presented by Ford will continue at home on Thursday evening with a 7:05 pm game against the Long Island Ducks. The game features Most Improved Student Night. For tickets, visit www.somersetpatriots.com.
