The Somerset Patriots dropped the series opener against the Akron RubberDucks 17-3 at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron, OH on Tuesday afternoon.
The loss dropped Somerset to 4.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 35 games remaining.
Somerset opened the scoring in the first inning with Jace Avina walking and scoring on an RBI single from Roderick Arias. The first inning run marked Somerset’s 71st this season, which ranks second in the Eastern League and third in Double-A.
Somerset’s pitching staff struck out 10 batters. The Patriots’ .270 K% ranks second in Double-A.
RHP Cade Smith (4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K) tossed 90 pitches for the fifth time this year, notching his fourth consecutive outing allowing three or fewer earned runs.
CF Jace Avina (2-for-4, RBI, BB, R) walked and scored in the first, before roping an RBI single to left field in the second inning. With two singles, Avina posted his 21st multi-hit game of the season, ranking second among all Patriots. Avina extended his on-base streak to a team-leading 13 games. In that span, Avina has reached safely in 27 of 60 plate appearances (.450 OBP).
DH DJ Gladney (2-for-5, 2B) registered his fourth consecutive multi-hit game. Gladney belted a two-out double down the left field line in the fourth inning, before singling in the ninth in his first game off the 7-day IL. Gladney extended his hit streak to a team-leading eight games. In that span he’s slashing .429/.444/.771 with 3 HR, 6 XBH and 10 RBI.
C Omar Alfonzo (1-for-5) looped a single in the first inning for his first hit in the Yankees organization.
SS Roderick Arias (1-for-5, RBI) worked an RBI single in the first inning to tally his first Double-A hit and RBI. Dating back to his time in Hudson Valley, Arias has hit safely in five straight games. In that span, he’s 8-for-20 (.400 AVG).
2B Connor McGinnis (1-for-4, BB) bunted for a single in the third inning, extending his hit streak to four games. With hits in five of his last six games, McGinnis is 7-for-22 (.318 AVG) in that span. Across his last 40 games dating back to his first Double-A homer on June 16 at Portland, McGinnis is slashing .269/.340/.469 with 6 HR, 16 XBH and 22 RBI.
3B Coby Morales (1-for-5, 2B) belted a two-out double in the eighth inning. Morales’ 41 XBH rank second in the Yankees minor league system, while his 20 doubles are tied for third among Yankees farmhands.
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-3, RBI, BB) pounded an RBI single to score Morales in the eighth inning. Across his last 13 games, Moylan is 16-for-48 (.333) with nine RBI.
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Box Score
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