Jackson’s Grand Slam Highlights Somerset’s Late Offensive Explosion in Series-Clinching Win
The Somerset Patriots roared past the Hartford Yard Goats 11-6 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Saturday night. The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 7,098, marking the second-largest home attendance and 18th home sellout this season. With the win, Somerset clinched the series
The Somerset Patriots roared past the Hartford Yard Goats 11-6 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Saturday night.
The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 7,098, marking the second-largest home attendance and 18th home sellout this season.
With the win, Somerset clinched the series over Hartford. The Patriots moved to 11-6 against the Yard Goats this season, including a 7-4 record at TD Bank Ballpark.
Trailing 5-0 entering the fifth inning, Somerset exploded for a run in the fifth, four runs in the sixth and six runs in the eighth inning. Somerset brought nine batters to the plate in the sixth and eighth innings, marking the 30th and 31st times the Patriots have brought at least nine batters to the plate in a single inning this season. It was the first time the Patriots have had two individual innings with nine plate appearances in the same game since April 3 vs. Portland.
With Core Jackson’s grand slam in the eighth inning, Somerset extended its franchise record total to 11 grand slams this season. Somerset’s 11 grand slams lead Double-A and are tied for the most in MiLB. Somerset’s 190 home runs rank second in Double-A and are tied for 10th in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion. In September, Somerset advanced to 7-0 in games with a homer compared to 0-4 in games without a home run.
Patriots’ pitching punched out 12 batters, marking the fourth time in the last five games Somerset has struck out double-digit hitters.
RHP Cade Smith (4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 5 K) made his team-high 24th start of the season. Smith spun at least five strikeouts for the fifth time in his last six starts. His 119 strikeouts lead all Patriots this season.
Clarke Schmidt faced four batters in his fifth outing of @MLB rehab. He struck out THREE of them! 🔥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 13, 2026
1.1 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 3 K pic.twitter.com/LdXT8KdDNi
RHP Clarke Schmidt (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) struck out three of the four batters he faced in his fifth MLB rehab appearance between Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Across nine rehab outings with Somerset dating back to 2021, Schmidt has posted a 2.88 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and .176 BAA with 36 K to 4 BB in 25.0 IP.
LHP Geoff Gilbert (1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) struck out two batters in his second consecutive scoreless outing. In his last 12 appearances, Gilbert has posted a 2.33 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and .100 BAA with 26 K to 11 BB in 19.1 IP.
🚨 CORE JACKSON GRAND SLAM 🚨
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 13, 2026
The @Yankees No. 12 Prospect BELTS his second Double-A home run 405 feet to right field! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eFP0xFT20t
DH Core Jackson (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 R) smashed a grand slam in the eighth inning for his second homer at Double-A and 14th across all levels this season. Jackson’s multi-hit game was his eighth at Double-A and 25th across all levels this season. Across his last eight games, Jackson is 11-for-33 (.333/.371/.485) with 3 XBH and 7 RBI.
SS Roderick Arias (1-for-5, SB) singled, stole third base and scored in the sixth inning. Arias’ stolen base was his 37th this season, matching a career-high set with Tampa in 2024. Arias’ 37 SB are tied for ninth in the Yankees minor league system.
3B Coby Morales (0-for-3, BB) extended his on-base streak to 12 games with a walk in the eighth inning. During his 12-game hit streak, Morales is 13-for-33 (.302 AVG) with five RBI. Morales has reached base safely in 34 of his last 35 games. In that span, he’s slashing .303/.419/.426 with 3 HR, 11 RBI, 7 XBH and seven multi-hit games.
C Manny Palencia (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) roped a double into the left field corner in the second inning, before singling in the eighth inning for his 19th multi-hit game of the season. Since the beginning of July, Palencia has 13 multi-hit games and is slashing .319/.351/.521 with 7 HR, 26 RBI and 15 XBH in 36 games. That comes after slashing .208/.288/.215 with 0 HR, 7 RBI and 1 XBH in the season’s first 46 games.
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-2, 2B, 2 BB, 3 R) extended his on-base streak to a season-long 10 games with a double in the fifth inning. During Moylan’s 10-game on-base streak, he is 12-for-30 (.400/.455/.867) with 4 HR, 13 RBI and 6 XBH.
Connor McGinnis is CLUTCH AGAIN! 🤯
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 13, 2026
He's got FOUR hits and FOUR RBIs, tying up the game in the eighth inning! pic.twitter.com/8Nif7trQZz
2B Connor McGinnis (4-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI) matched a career-high in hits with his second four-hit game with Somerset and first since July 10 vs. Reading. The effort was his fourth three-plus hit game with Somerset and 14th multi-hit game with the Patriots this season. McGinnis is the only Patriot with multiple four-hit games this season. He joins Ben Rice, Agustin Ramírez, Oswald Peraza, Spencer Jones, Tyler Hardman, Jasson Domínguez and Chad Bell as the ninth batter to record multiple four hit games with Somerset in the franchise’s Double-A history. McGinnis improved his slash line to .368/.478/.500 with a HR, 8 RBI and 3 XBH in 14 games against the Yard Goats this season.
***
The Patriots’ rising stars became successful in part because of great managers who helped them level up their game. PSE&G can show you how to level up your energy game and start lowering your energy costs.
Start stacking some energy efficiency wins of your own today! Visit pseg.com/EnergyCoach to learn more about home energy assessments, discounts, rebates, and programs.