The Somerset Patriots scored nine unanswered runs to vault past the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-2 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Friday night. The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 6,549 – Somerset’s 13th sellout crowd this season.
Somerset has won eight of its last nine games to stay within 3.5 games of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division and climb over .500 (16-15) for the first time in the second half.
After trailing 2-0 entering the fifth inning, Somerset scored two runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and four in the seventh inning. In the seventh inning, Somerset brought nine batters to the plate for the 20th time this season and first time since the third inning on July 25 at New Hampshire.
The Patriots combined to hit 4-for-14 with RISP, marking the eighth time in the last nine games Somerset has recorded multiple hits with RISP. Somerset has won 16 consecutive games when recording multiple hits with RISP.
With two homers in the sixth inning, Somerset notched its ninth multi-home run inning this season and first since the sixth inning on July 23 at New Hampshire. Somerset has smashed multiple homers in six of its last 10 games and has recorded multiple homers in 43 of 100 (43.0%) games this season. That surpasses Somerset’s multiple homers in 35 of 138 (25.4%) games in 2025. The multi-homer effort extended Somerset’s streak to 11 consecutive games with a home run. Somerset has homered in 11 straight games for the first time since homering in a season-high 14 straight games on April 24 to May 8. Somerset’s active 11-game streak with a home run leads the Eastern League.
Kevin Verde’s two-run home run in the sixth inning marked Somerset’s 1000th regular season home run as the Yankees Double-A Affiliate. In that span, the Patriots lead Double-A in homers. Somerset’s 146 homers this season pace Double-A and rank sixth in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion.
Dating back to July 12 vs. Reading, Somerset starting pitching has combined to allow 15 earned runs for a 2.19 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and .197 BAA with 76 K to 27 BB in 61.2 IP across the last 14 games.
RHP Rory Fox (4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K) worked four innings in his Double-A debut. Across his last six starts dating back to Hudson Valley, Fox has posted a 2.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .223 BAA with 37 K to 7 BB in 34.1 IP. Fox joined Ben Grable, Jack Cebert and Connor McGinnis as the fourth Patriot to debut at Double-A after being selected by the Yankees in the 2025 MLB Draft.
In relief of Fox, Hueston Morrill (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K), Tony Rossi (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K) and Harrison Cohen (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K) combined for five scoreless innings.
CF Jace Avina (0-for-2, 3 BB, R) extended his on-base streak to a team-leading 10 games with three walks in his last three plate appearances of the game. Avina’s three walks matched his career high for the sixth time and marked Avina’s first time with three walks since July 23 at New Hampshire. During Avina’s on-base streak, he’s reached base in 18 of 46 plate appearances (.413 OBP).
3B Coby Morales (1-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB) ripped his team-lead tying third triple of the season to knot the game 2-2 in the fifth inning. Morales’s two-RBI triple padded his Eastern League-leading RBI total to 72. His 72 RBI lead the Yankees minor league system.
1B Josh Moylan (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) smashed his fifth Double-A home run and 18th homer overall this season with a go-ahead solo shot in the sixth inning. Moylan’s 18 HR are a career-high and are tied for fourth in the Yankees minor league system. Moylan’s three hits marked his third three-hit game with Somerset and fifth multi-hit game with the Patriots this season. Across his last ten games, Moylan is slashing .378/.390/.568 with 2 HR and 8 RBI.
C Manny Palencia (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) registered his 11th multi-hit game this season. In July, Palencia slashed .375/.400/.438 with 3 XBH, 4 RBI and 18 hits alongside five multi-hit games.
SS Kevin Verde (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) homered in his third consecutive game for the first time in his career. Verde extended his hit streak to a season-high four games. In that span, he’s 5-for-12 with 3 HR, 9 RBI, BB and 3 R. Verde’s three-game streak with a home run is tied with Tyler Hardman, Marco Luciano and Garrett Martin for the second-longest by a Patriot this season.
RF Luis Durango (2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI) collected his first Double-A double in the seventh inning to secure his second multi-hit game with Somerset. Across four Double-A games this season, Durango is 5-for-11 with 3 R, 2 XBH, 2 RBI, 3 SB and a BB.
***
The Patriots’ rising stars became successful in part because of great managers who helped them level up their game. PSE&G can show you how to level up your energy game and start lowering your energy costs.
Start stacking some energy efficiency wins of your own today! Visit pseg.com/EnergyCoach to learn more about home energy assessments, discounts, rebates, and programs.