Homers Back Up Cunningham’s Dominance in Somerset’s Win Over Hartford
The Somerset Patriots held off the Hartford Yard Goats for a 4-3 win at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Friday night. Somerset moved to 10-6 against the Yard Goats this season, including a 6-4 record at TD Bank Ballpark. With the win, the Patriots clinched the season series
The Somerset Patriots held off the Hartford Yard Goats for a 4-3 win at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Friday night.
Somerset moved to 10-6 against the Yard Goats this season, including a 6-4 record at TD Bank Ballpark. With the win, the Patriots clinched the season series over Hartford.
Somerset earned its 11th win this season when being out-hit by its opponent and moved to 20-24 in one-run games.
With home runs from Jace Avina and Cole Gabrielson, Somerset extended its franchise record to 57 multi-homer games (41-16). Somerset’s 189 home runs rank second in Double-A and are tied for ninth in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion. In September, Somerset advanced to 6-0 in games with a homer compared to 0-4 in games without a home run.
Patriots’ pitching punched out 11 batters, marking the third time in the last four games Somerset has struck out double-digit hitters. Somerset’s .269 K% this season ranks fourth in Double-A.
Before Jimmy Obertop’s two-run homer in the eighth inning, Somerset extended its streak to 16.0 scoreless IP going back to Thursday’s shutout win.
Dating back to Tuesday, Somerset starters have allowed one run en route to posting a 2-1 record, 0.41 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and .135 BAA alongside 21 K to 4 BB in 22.0 IP.
Bryce Cunningham (@Yankees No. 9 Prospect) DOMINATED with his second straight quality start! 🤩
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 12, 2026
7.0 IP | 4 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 7 K pic.twitter.com/9kvuejJuKA
RHP Bryce Cunningham (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K) pitched 7.0 innings in his second consecutive outing to earn back-to-back quality starts for the first time at Double-A. Cunningham is the only Somerset pitcher to notch 7.0 inning starts in back-to-back outings this season. He joined Rory Fox and Cade Smith as the only Patriots to throw 7.0 IP in multiple starts this year.
Cunningham posted seven strikeouts in three consecutive outings for the first time this season. In that span, he’s struck out 21 batters and walked none in 20.0 IP. Across his last two outings, Cunningham has posted a 1.93 ERA, 2-0 record, 0.71 WHIP and .200 BAA with 14 K to 0 BB in 14.0 IP.
Jace Avina (@Yankees No. 25 Prospect) WALLOPS his 21st homer of the season to lead off the first inning! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yBZd36O9vn
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 11, 2026
DH Jace Avina (2-for-3, HR, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 R) smacked his 21st home run of the season to lead off the first inning. Avina has homered twice in September after going homerless in 26 games from July 30 - August 30. Reaching base in 11 of his last 12 games, Avina is slashing .320/.370/.500 with 2 HR, 5 XBH and 5 RBI in that span.
3B Coby Morales (1-for-3) extended his hit streak to a career-high 11 games with a single in the fourth inning. During his 11-game hit streak, Morales is 13-for-30 (.325 AVG) with five RBI. Morales has reached base safely in 33 of his last 34 games. In that span, he’s slashing .311/.424/.437 with 3 HR, 11 RBI, 7 XBH and seven multi-hit games. Morales extended his franchise single season records in hits (132) and games played (129).
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-3) extended his on-base streak to a season-long nine games. During Moylan’s nine-game on-base streak, he is 11-for-28 (.393/.414/.857) with 4 HR, 13 RBI and 5 XBH.
Cole Gabrielson has left the building!👋🏻
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 11, 2026
Gabrielson sets a new career-high with his 7th home run of the season to make the score 4-0 Somerset! pic.twitter.com/AozZ7fPoXg
CF Cole Gabrielson (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R) mashed his sixth homer with Somerset and seventh homer across all levels with a two-run shot down the left field line in the fourth inning. Gabrielson’s home run set a new career-high across all levels, surpassing his six long balls with Somerset in 2025. Reaching base in 11 of his last 12 games, Gabrielson is slashing.359/.432/.692 with 3 HR, 9 RBI and 7 XBH alongside four multi-hit games in that span.
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