Cunningham’s Complete Game and Moylan’s Grand Slam Propel Patriots to Doubleheader Split
The Somerset Patriots split a doubleheader with the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park in Erie, PA on Saturday evening. The Patriots fell 6-5 in eight innings in Game 1, before notching a 6-3 win in Game 2. With the result, Somerset finds itself 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in
The Somerset Patriots split a doubleheader with the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park in Erie, PA on Saturday evening. The Patriots fell 6-5 in eight innings in Game 1, before notching a 6-3 win in Game 2.
With the result, Somerset finds itself 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with seven games remaining in the second half. Somerset moved to 7-7 across seven doubleheaders this season.
After just four total hits on Friday, Somerset used six hits to climb out to a 4-0 first inning lead in Game 1. The Patriots brought nine batters to the plate for the 27th time this season and first time since the first inning of Wednesday’s win over Erie. In the first inning against Erie this week, Somerset is batting .423 with a 1.192 OPS and eight runs. Somerset’s 93 first inning runs lead the Eastern League and are tied for second in Double-A.
With the bounce-back win in Game 2, Somerset clinched its 70th win of the season - claiming its sixth consecutive winning season since becoming the Yankees Double-A affiliate in 2021.
In Game 2, Somerset fought back with a four-run sixth inning highlighted by Josh Moylan’s grand slam. Moylan’s grand slam was Somerset’s 10th this season - setting a new franchise single season record (2023 – nine grand slams). Somerset’s 10 grand slams lead Double-A and are tied for second in MiLB.
With Jackson Castillo’s fifth inning homer and Moylan’s grand slam in Game 2, the Patriots notched their franchise-record 56th multi-HR game (40-16) this season to surpass their 55 multi-HR games in 2023. Somerset’s 185 home runs this season rank second in Double-A and are tied for ninth in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion.
Rory Fox (@Yankees No. 10 Prospect) SHOVED with his first Double-A quality start! 🤩
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 5, 2026
6.0 IP | 2 R | 2 BB | 6 K pic.twitter.com/xkaBRBojgg
RHP Rory Fox (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K) earned his first Double-A quality start. Fox worked at least five innings for his sixth straight outing. In that span, he’s racked up 33 K to 8 BB in 36.0 IP. Across his last two outings, Fox has posted a 3.18 ERA with 11 K in 11.1 IP. Fox issued two or fewer walks in his 13th consecutive start dating back to his time with the Renegades. In that span, he’s issued 13 walks to 297 batters faced (.044 BB%).
Bryce Cunningham (@Yankees No. 9 Prospect) pitched Somerset's first COMPLETE GAME this season! 🤩
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 6, 2026
7.0 IP | 6 H | 3 R | 0 BB | 7 K | 78 pitches pic.twitter.com/qvGeoT7XGE
RHP Bryce Cunningham (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 7 K) worked his second career complete game and first since August 1 vs. Jersey Shore. Cunningham’s complete game was the first by a Somerset pitcher since Ben Hess’ 5.0 IP complete game on September 4, 2025 vs. New Hampshire. Cunningham joined Blane Abeyta, Brock Selvidge, Hayden Wesneski (2x) and Hess as the fifth unique Patriot to log a complete game.
Cunningham’s outing marked his first career Double-A quality start. He joined Fox, Cade Smith, Kyle Carr, Xavier Rivas, Chase Chaney, Jack Cebert, Dom Hamel, Trent Sellers and Hess as the 10th unique Patriot to earn a quality start this season. Cunningham posted seven strikeouts in back-to-back outings for the first time this season. Across three Double-A appearances, Cunningham has tallied 20 K to 2 BB in 18.0 IP.
CF Jace Avina (1-for-7, HBP, 2 R) singled and scored in the first inning of Game 1. Avina has reached base safely in 12 of his last 13 games. In that span, he’s 15-for-54 (.278) alongside a HR, 9 RBI, 3 XBH and four multi-hit games.
SS Core Jackson (3-for-8, RBI) pounded a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning of Game 1. The only Patriot with multiple hits in Game 1, Jackson notched his fifth multi-hit game with Somerset. Across five games against the SeaWolves this week, Jackson is batting .286 with a HR, 4 RBI and two multi-hit games.
2B Roderick Arias (2-for-3, BB, 2 SB, 2 R) collected his seventh multi-hit game with Somerset in Game 2 of the doubleheader. In Game 2, Arias swiped two bases for the first time since August 8 at Akron. Arias’ 36 stolen bases rank eighth in the Yankees minor league system.
3B Coby Morales (2-for-6, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R) picked up an RBI single in the first inning of Game 1, tallying his 80th RBI of the season. In the fourth inning of Game 2, he roped an RBI single to score Roderick Arias. Morales’ 81 RBI rank second in the Eastern League and fourth in the Yankees farm system. Morales joins DJ Gladney as the only two Patriots hitters to record 80-plus RBI with Somerset in a single season dating back to 2021.
Morales extended his hit streak to six games with hits in each end of the doubleheader. During the span, Morales is 7-for-21 with five RBI. Morales has reached base safely in 28 of his last 29 games. In that span, he’s slashing .310/.435/.450 with 3 HR, 11 RBI, 6 XBH and six multi-hit games.
JOSH MOYLAN STRIKES AGAIN 💥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 6, 2026
He SMASHES a 416-foot, 110 mph GRAND SLAM for his @Yankees farm system-leading 27th HR of the season! pic.twitter.com/BiLWSW43yG
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, R) cranked a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning of Game 2. Moylan’s grand slam was his second with Somerset this season and first since August 13 vs. New Hampshire. Moylan joins Connor McGinnis as one of two Patriots with two grand slams this season. With six homers in his last 14 games and 10 homers in his last 31 games, Moylan’s 27 home runs across all levels lead the Yankees minor league system. Moylan’s career-high 27 homers in 115 games across all levels this season surpass his 17 home runs in his first 239 career games from 2023 to 2025.
RF Cole Gabrielson (1-for-3, RBI) pumped an RBI single in the first inning of Game 1 to extend his on-base streak to eight games. During Gabrielson’s eight-game on-base streak, he’s slashing .308/.400/.577 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 3 XBH.
Jackson Castillo BASHES his career-high tying NINTH home run of the season! 💪 pic.twitter.com/d3T5CdJRcS
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 6, 2026
LF Jackson Castillo (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R) pummeled a leadoff homer in the fifth inning of Game 2. Castillo’s home run was his ninth of the season and first homer since August 7 at Akron. Castillo’s nine home runs match a career-high across all levels in 2024. He becomes the 14th hitter to suit up for Somerset to set or tie their career-high in home runs in 2026.
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