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MLB

Five-Run First Inning Sets Tone in Series Opening Win Over Goats

By Somerset Patriots
September 8, 2026

The Somerset Patriots won the series opener against the Hartford Yard Goats 7-2 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Tuesday evening. With the result, Somerset finds itself 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with five games remaining in the second half. Somerset moved to

The Somerset Patriots won the series opener against the Hartford Yard Goats 7-2 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Tuesday evening.

With the result, Somerset finds itself 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with five games remaining in the second half.

Somerset moved to 8-5 against the Yard Goats this season, including a 4-3 record at TD Bank Ballpark.

Somerset pounced with a five-run first inning, signaling its second consecutive game plating five runs in a single inning. The Patriots brought nine to the plate, marking the second consecutive game the Patriots have done so after using 10 batters to score five runs in the eighth inning on Sunday. Dating back to Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, Somerset has brought nine-plus batters to the plate in a single inning in three of the last five games.

Across its last 13 games dating back to August 25, Somerset is batting .359 with a 1.001 OPS and 19 runs scored (1.5 runs/game) in the first inning in that span. Somerset’s 98 first inning runs this season lead the Eastern League and rank second in Double-A.

With Josh Moylan’s homer in the seventh inning, Somerset’s 186 home runs rank second in Double-A and are tied for 10th in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion.

Somerset’s offense totaled 12 hits, racking up double-digit hits for the fourth time in the last seven games. Somerset has won seven of its last eight games when recording 10-plus hits.

LHP Geoff Gilbert (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) struck out two batters in his first Double-A start and second career start. In his last 11 appearances, Gilbert has posted a 2.55 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and .107 BAA with 24 K to 11 BB in 17.2 IP.

RHP Michael Arias (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) recorded his sixth consecutive scoreless outing to pump his scoreless inning streak to 9.1 innings. Arias’ four strikeouts tied a season-high and were his most in a game since fanning four batters against Hartford on July 1. Across his last eight games, he’s allowed a 0.73 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and .190 BAA with 11 K to 4 BB in 12.1 IP.

CF Jace Avina (3-for-5, RBI) roped an RBI single in the fourth inning, before singling in the sixth and eighth innings to record his ninth three-hit game with Somerset this season. Avina extended his on-base streak to nine games. He is slashing .325/.357/.425 with a HR, 2 XBH and 4 RBI during the stretch. Avina has reached base safely in 14 of his last 15 games. In that span, he’s 19-for-64 (.297 AVG) alongside a HR, 11 RBI, 3 XBH and five multi-hit games.

DH Roderick Arias (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) drilled an RBI double in the first inning to score Core Jackson for the opening run of the game. Across his last three games, Arias is 6-for-12 with two RBI.

3B Coby Morales (1-for-4, R) singled in the fifth inning to extend his hit streak to a season-high eight games. During his eight-game hit streak, Morales is 9-for-30 (.300 AVG) with five RBI. Morales has reached base safely in 30 of his last 31 games. In that span, he’s slashing .303/.421/.431 with 3 HR, 11 RBI, 6 XBH and six multi-hit games. Morales’ 128 hits this season are the most by any hitter with Somerset across a single season in franchise history.

1B Josh Moylan (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R) pounded a three-run double in the first inning, before hammering his 15th homer with Somerset this season. With three homers in his last six games, seven homers in his last 15 games and 11 homers in his last 33 games, Moylan’s 28 home runs across all levels lead the Yankees minor league system. Moylan’s career-high 28 homers in 117 games across all levels this season surpass his 17 home runs in his first 239 career games from 2023 to 2025. Across his last six games, Moylan is 6-for-18 (.333/.368/.889) with 3 HR, 12 RBI and 4 XBH.

LF Cole Gabrielson (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, SB) notched his third three-hit game across all levels. Gabrielson extended his on-base streak to a season-high tying 10 games in which he’s slashing .394/.474/.697 with 2 HR, 7 RBI and 6 XBH alongside four multi-hit games.

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Box Score

Postgame Notes

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