Avina’s Two-Homer Game Ends in a Stunner as Somerset Falls in Richmond
The Somerset Patriots fell via walk-off to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-6 at CarMax Park in Richmond, VA on Friday night. With three home runs, Somerset has hit multiple home runs in four of its last five games, smashing a league-high 12 homers in that span. Somerset’s 28 home runs
The Somerset Patriots fell via walk-off to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-6 at CarMax Park in Richmond, VA on Friday night.
With three home runs, Somerset has hit multiple home runs in four of its last five games, smashing a league-high 12 homers in that span. Somerset’s 28 home runs this season ranks second in the Eastern League.
Somerset notched two home runs in the eighth inning or later for the second time this series. It was Somerset’s fourth multi-HR inning this season and first since the ninth inning on 4/22/26 at Richmond.
With 13 strikeouts in the game, Somerset’s pitching staff has recorded eight-plus strikeouts in 13 straight games. Reaching that mark in 17 of 18 games this season, Somerset’s 10.6 K/9 ranks second in the Eastern League.
Xavier Rivas (@Yankees No. 23 Prospect) was NASTY in his third career Double-A start!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 25, 2026
4.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 3 K pic.twitter.com/mUQpXHbgfx
LHP Xavier Rivas (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) tossed a Double-A career-high 4.0 innings in his second scoreless outing of the season. Through four career Double-A appearances, Rivas has racked up 13 strikeouts in 11.0 IP
Hayden Merda strikes out Giants No. 7 Prospect Bo Davidson!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 25, 2026
That's 5⃣ strikeouts for Merda through 2.0 IP. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/52gNRJMMa6
RHP Hayden Merda (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) tossed a season-high tying five strikeouts, including punching out Giants No. 7 Prospect Bo Davidson looking to end the eighth inning. With his fifth straight scoreless outing, Merda retired five of the seven batters he faced via strikeout.
Through a team-high seven appearances this season, Merda has a 0.93 WHIP and 0.200 BAA with 17 strikeouts to two walks in 9.2 IP. He’s striking out 45.9% of batters he’s seen this season. Merda’s seven appearances this season are tied for fifth in the Eastern League.
AVINA STRIKES AGAIN‼️
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 25, 2026
Jace Avina (@Yankees No. 19 Prospect) notches his SIXTH career multi-HR game, tying things up in the eighth! pic.twitter.com/G1S26SLmLD
CF Jace Avina (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R) tallied his first multi-hit game of the season with his sixth career multi-HR game. Avina’s two homer game was his first since 7/9/25 vs. Asheville in High-A. It was the first multi-HR game by a Patriot batter since Kenedy Corona on 4/22/26 at Richmond and Somerset’s Eastern League leading fourth multi-HR game by a single batter of the season.
With hits in seven of his last eight games, Avina is slashing .286/.417/.750 with four HR and eight RBI in that span. During the stretch, he’s raised his batting average by 89 points.
BACK. IN. FRONT.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 25, 2026
Coby Morales rips his team-lead tying fourth HR of the season! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/T2rJ0dtCF8
1B Coby Morales (1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB, 3 R) rocked his fourth HR of the season with a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning. Morales’ 17 RBI rank second among Yankees farmhands, are tied for third in the Eastern League and are the most ever by a Patriot through Somerset’s first 18 games.
Morales has reached base safely in every start this season and 16 of 17 appearances overall. Across his last seven games, Morales is slashing .375/.444/.750 with five XBH and six RBI. Morales scored a career-high tying three runs for the seventh time in his career and notched his first multi-SB game of the season.
CLUTCH LIKE CASTILLO 🙌
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 25, 2026
It's a 3⃣ RBI night for Jackson Castillo! pic.twitter.com/KoX4Fo5O8t
DH Jackson Castillo (3-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) tallied a game-high three RBI, securing his first three-hit game of the season with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning. The three-hit game marked Castillo’s first since 9/7/25 vs. New Hampshire.
Through two games this season, Castillo is 4-for-7 with a double, four RBI and a walk. Dating back to last season, Castillo has a hit and RBI in four straight games with Somerset.
With a double in the fourth inning, Castillo extended Somerset’s double streak to 18 straight games to start the season. The Patriots 41 doubles this season rank third-most in the Eastern League and are the most ever by a Somerset team through the first 18 games of the season.
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