Somerset Season Ends in Shutout by Rumble Ponies
There will be no defense of the League Championship after all.
The Somerset Patriots fell to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2-0 in Game 2 of a best-of-three division series in the Double-A Eastern League, in the Double-A Subway Series clash between the Yankees and Mets affiliates.
The Patriots struggled offensively against Binghamton’s incredible pitching staff. The Patriots managed only three hits, and were a combined 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Over the two games, Somerset was 1-for-11 with RISP.
Binghamton’s Dominic Hamel was spectacular. He held a powerful Yankees Double-A lineup to just three hits and two walks over 7.2 innings of work. He struck out eight batters.
Perhaps Somerset’s best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mickey Gasper led off with a double, and Trey Sweeney walked with one out. Now facing the two most feared hitters in the Patriots lineup, Hamel got Ben Rice to pop out to short strop, and jammed Spencer Jones on a fly out to center field.
Rice and Jones went a combined 0-for-8 with a strikeout in Game 2.
Scoring:
Meanwhile, Mets prospect Luis Angelacuna, who was hit in the face by a pitch on Tuesday, drove in the first run of the night of a sac fly to right, scoring Hayden Senger in the top of the third inning.
Two innings later, the Patriots plated their final run of the night when Senger cracked a solo shot to left center to make it 2-0.
Somerset Pitching:
On the flip side, Richard Fitts was once again fantastic for the Patriots. The 12th ranked prospect in the Yankees farm system, struck out eight batters over six innings of work, allowing only two runs. Fitts was easily the Patriots best pitcher this season, winning 11 games, and pitching to an ERA of 3.48 in 27 starts. He was among the league leaders in strikeouts with 163.
Up Next:
The Double-A season is over for Somerset. The next Patriots home game will be April 5, 2024 against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
