Arias Stays Raging Hot as Patriots Lose in Akron
The Somerset Patriots fell to the Akron RubberDucks 6-3 at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron, OH on Saturday night. The loss moved Somerset to 4.0 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 31 games remaining.
The Somerset Patriots fell to the Akron RubberDucks 6-3 at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron, OH on Saturday night. The loss moved Somerset to 4.0 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 31 games remaining.
All 6⃣ strikeouts tonight for Ben Hess (@Yankees No. 5 Prospect) 👀 pic.twitter.com/s3MvW400Br
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 9, 2026
RHP Ben Hess (4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 6 K) tossed a season-high 90 pitches – his most in a game since August 29, 2025 at Binghamton. Hess struck out at least six batters for the third time in his last four starts and fourth time this season.
Somerset’s bullpen combined for 3.1 scoreless innings pitched in relief of Ben Hess, marking the third time in the last four games Somerset’s bullpen has not allowed a run.
Hayden Merda is CLUTCH 😤
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 9, 2026
He strands the bases loaded with a 3⃣-pitch strikeout! pic.twitter.com/o6gp6Ht4fn
RHP Hayden Merda (2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) struck out the bases loaded in the fifth inning, before tossing 2.1 scoreless innings. Merda’s 2.1 IP tied a season-high for the third time. It was his first time with 2.1 IP since July 4 vs. Hartford. Merda’s .376 K% leads all Double-A relievers with more than 40.0 IP.
RHP Tony Rossi (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) picked up a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless eighth inning. Across his last 10 outings, Rossi has a 1.38 ERA, 2-0 record, 0.77 WHIP and .136 BAA with 13 K in 13.0 IP.
DH DJ Gladney (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, R) pelted an RBI double down the right field line in the fifth inning. Gladney extended his on-base streak to 11 games. With hits in 10 games during that stretch, Gladney is slashing .378/.417/.733 with 4 HR, 8 XBH and 13 RBI. With an RBI in seven of his last 10 games, Gladney’s 67 RBI rank third in the Eastern League and are tied for fourth in the Yankees farm system.
3B Coby Morales (1-for-3, BB, R) walked in the fourth inning and singled in the eighth inning to extend his hit streak to five games and on-base streak to seven games. During Morales’ seven-game on-base streak, he’s reached safely in 10 of 27 plate appearances (.370 OBP). Morales’ 101 hits through Somerset’s first 107 games of the season rank second in the franchise’s affiliated history.
WHAT A SWIM MOVE FROM RODERICK ARIAS 🏊♂️
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 9, 2026
With 31 SB this season, Arias is the only @Yankees farmhand with 30+ SB in each of the last 3⃣ years! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iQ2Ggopp89
SS Roderick Arias (2-for-4, RBI, 2 SB) notched his third multi-hit game with Somerset and picked up his first two Double-A stolen bases. Arias roped an RBI single to right field to put Somerset on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, before picking up his first Double-A stolen base. In the sixth inning, he singled to lead off the frame and snagged his second stolen base of the game with a swim move at second base.
Arias’ 31 stolen bases across High-A and Double-A this season mark his third career season with 30-plus stolen bases (2024 – 37, 2025 – 34). Arias is the only Yankees farmhand with 30-plus stolen bases in each of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Arias has hit safely in all five games to start his stint with Somerset. Dating back to his time in Hudson Valley, Arias has hit safely in nine straight games. In that span, he’s slashing .405/.421/.595 with 6 XBH, 4 RBI and five multi-hit games. Arias’ nine-game hit streak ties a season-high for the third time and first time since June 19 – June 28 with the Renegades.
LF Jackson Castillo (1-for-4) extended his on-base streak to eight games with a two-out single in the second inning. During Castillo’s eight-game on base streak, he’s reached safely in 15-of-39 plate appearances (.385 OBP).
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB) tallied his 17th RBI of the season with Somerset on a groundout in the fourth inning, before extending his hit streak to a season-high tying six games with a double in the sixth inning. During his six-game hit streak, Moylan is 7-for-22 at the plate. Across his last 17 games, Moylan is slashing .333/.362/.524 with 3 HR, 12 RBI, 6 XBH and four multi-hit games.
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Box Score
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