Thrills with the Phils

5/16 – Luis Severino (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. David Parkinson (0-1, 6.55 ERA)

The Somerset Patriots returned home for a 6-game set with the Phillies’ Double-A Squad, The Reading Fightin’ Phils. Luis Severino was in town for a rehab assignment as he started what would be his final tune-up before starting for the Yanks in Cincinnati on Sunday.

In his rehab start, Severino (3.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K) did get hit hard on some pitches but was able to settle down before being lifted in the 4th. Sevy shined on Sunday against Cincy and will look to be the missing piece the Yankees need in their rotation.

As for the game, the Patriots offense was firing on all cylinders.  Yankees’ top five prospects, Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells, Everson Pereira and Trey Sweeney combined to go 11-for-21 with 11 RBI and 9 R at the top of the Patriots’ order.

C Austin Wells (3-for-6, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) got the scoring started with an RBI single in the first inning, scoring Jasson Dominguez, before breaking a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning with a three-run home run to right-field at 103.5 MPH off the bat, traveling 368 ft.  After a tear in which he hit home runs in four straight games between May 5-9, Wells now has five home runs through his first 46 at-bats for Somerset this season. Somerset rolled in game 1 winning 14-10.

@LuisSeverino94 when asked about @Yankees #2 prospect @wellsius16 #RepBX @PinstripedPros pic.twitter.com/xYx9upgpeU

— Bobby Santoro (@bsantoro112) May 17, 2023

5/17 – Blas Castano (3-0, 1.77 ERA) vs. Griff McGarry (0-0, 4.50 ERA)

Game 2 of the series started Wednesday morning and the Patriots had a season-high attendance of 7,203 for STEM Education Day. After a long night before, the Patriots bats went quiet in this one as they fell to Reading 9-1. Blas Castano, who has been electric so far this year, had his first hiccup going 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.

The bats slept in on this morning game as well, only mustering together 1 run on 6 hits. CF Everson Pereira (2-for-4, HR) homered in the third inning to put the Patriots on the scoreboard. The Yankees No. 4 prospect registered his second straight multi-hit performance and eighth multi-hit game of the season. His solo home run was his fourth over his last eight games. That was the only real showing of offense, however, as Somerset fell to Reading 9-1 to even the series at 2. 

5/18 – Richard Fitts (1-3, 6.07 ERA) vs. Tyler Phillips (1-2, 3.81 ERA)

Thursday saw the team’s bats wake up once again, as the ball was flying out of the ballpark! The Patriots launched a season-high four home runs, including long balls from three of the top four Yankees prospects. The top four in Somerset’s order of Trey Sweeney, Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells and Everson Pereira combined to go 6-for-14 with 3 HR, 5 RBI and 7 R.

Austin Wells and Tyler Hardman have become the Patriots version of the Bash Brothers and have both had a red hot start to the year. Richard Fitts took the mound and, while he started a little shaky, was able to get the no-decision, finishing with 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 K.

The other big bright spot for Somerset was Everson Pereira. Pereira (2-for-4, HR) concluded the scoring with his sixth homer of the year, a solo blast in the 7th inning. The Yankees No. 4 prospect registered his third straight multi-hit performance and ninth overall multi-hit game this season, and he tied for the team lead. His 21 RBI on the season now lead the team and are tied for fifth in the Eastern League. The Pats rolled in this one to beat Reading 10-3.

@wellsius16 is not human! Another long ball! His 6th of the year is a solo shot to extend the Pats lead 5-2 over Reading! #RepBX pic.twitter.com/3FCQYCYkZw

— Bobby Santoro (@bsantoro112) May 18, 2023

5/19 – Clayton Beeter (2-2, 3.14 ERA) vs. Mick Abel (2-2, 5.40 ERA)

We had a thriller on Friday night under the lights in Bridgewater. The Patriots’ new ace since Will Warren has been called up to Triple-A has definitely been Clayton Beeter. He has looked strong since coming over in that trade last year that sent Joey Gallo to the Dodgers. Beeter (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 5 K) earned a no-decision in his seventh start of the season.

Somerset found themselves down 3-1 when Brandon Lockridge (1-for-3, 2 RBI) tied the ballgame at three with his two-run single in the 6th inning. Lockridge extended his on-base streak to 13 games, over which he’s slashing .415/.519/.683 with 8 RBI, 9 SB, and 10 R. Caleb Durbin (2-for-3, 2 R) who had been recently called up from High-A Hudson Valley made a sparkling play in the top of the 7th to keep the score knotted at 3.

DURBIN DIVE!

Caleb Durbin lays out to make an incredible play😲 pic.twitter.com/Hsa4eomuG4

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 20, 2023

The score remained that way until T.J. Rumfield stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 9th. Rumfield (0-for-3, RBI, R) delivered the walk-off in the 9th inning, a sacrifice fly to score Trey Sweeney from third base. The walk-off gave Rumfield his 20th RBI of the season, third on the team behind Jasson Dominguez and Everson Pereira, who are tied with 21. The walk-off sac fly sent the Bridgewater faithful home happy as Somerset won 4-3.

WALK IT OFF, T.J.!

T.J. Rumfield with a bases loaded sac fly and error in the bottom of the ninth for the win! pic.twitter.com/B4hAVCNm2B

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 20, 2023

5/20 – Gray Fenter (2-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Josh Hendrickson (0-3, 5.06 ERA)

Saturday night’s game continued to provide the drama that we have seen throughout this whole series.

Gray Fenter toed the slab for the Pats going 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 K and earned the no-decision. Somerset’s offense came out firing again as they homered three times over the first four innings, marking the third time this series the Patriots have hit 3+ HR in a game.

C Austin Wells (2-for-5, HR) got the scoring started with a solo blast in the first inning at 110.2 MPH off the bat. The Yankees No. 2 prospect has collected multiple hits in five of his 16 games played for Somerset this season. The Fightin’ Phils were then able to jump out to a 2-1 lead on a Madison Stokes 2-run shot off Fenter in the 2nd. T.J. Rumfield (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R HR) gave Somerset a 3-2 lead in the 3rd inning with his sixth homer of the season, a two-run dinger scoring Jasson Dominguez.

Brandon Lockridge (1-for-3, HR, BB, SB) extended the Patriots lead to two runs with his solo homer in the 4th inning. Lockridge extended his on-base streak to 14 games, over which he’s slashing .409/.518/.727 with 9 RBI, 10 SB, and 11 R. Lockridge stole his team-leading 17th base of the season in the 6th inning, tied for third most in the Eastern League.

This put Somerset up 4-2 but a 3-run 5th inning for Reading was too much, as they lost a heartbreaker going into the finale on Sunday 6-5. Steven Jennings was tagged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the 6th.

5/21 – Blane Abeyta (2-1 6.33 ERA) vs. David Parkinson (0-2 6.23 ERA)

The series finale was another day game on Sunday and, just like the first day game in this series, the bats went quiet. White the Patriots strung together 9 hits, they left 11 runners on base—failing to come through in terms of driving in runs.

Starting pitching shined in this one as RHP Blane Abeyta (5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 7 K, 1 BB) struck out 7+ for the second time in as many starts, following a 10 K performance last Sunday @ Portland. Abeyta allowed two or less hits for the third time over seven starts this season. Between the 1st and 5th innings, Abeyta went a span of 12 batters without allowing a baserunner.

Austin Wells (1-for-4, RBI) brought the Patriots’ sole run of the game home on an RBI single in the 5th inning. The Yankees’ No. 2 prospect played five games over the series, over which he went 8-for-22 with 3 HR, 7 RBI, and 5 R. In 62 at-bats since being activated off the injured-list on 5/2, Wells has 7 HR, 3 2B, 20 RBI, and an OPS of 1.009. Despite only playing in 15 games this season, Wells’ 20 RBI rank fourth on the team. Somerset fell 3-1 with Abeyta getting a tough loss. The series ends in a 3-3 split.

The series was a mix of ups and downs for the Patriots, who looked strong on offense at times during the week. Austin Wells, Jasson Dominguez and Everson Pereira are a force to be reckoned with in this dangerous lineup, which will only get better once Spencer Jones is called up from Hudson Valley. Is there a chance we get to see all 4 in the same lineup? That certainly would be exciting, but for now Pats fans, sit back and relax as we get to watch our 23-15 Patriots hit the road this week against the 1st place South Division Erie Seawolves. 

The Patriots hit the road to take on the SeaWolves for the first time since winning the 2022 Eastern League Championship. @mattkardos has the preview of the series.https://t.co/TdtQBccZnm pic.twitter.com/wOJeRajbBc

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 23, 2023