Late Rally Falls Short as Cunningham Fans Seven in Series Finale
The Somerset Patriots dropped the series finale to the Akron RubberDucks 7-4 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Sunday afternoon. Somerset fell to 4.0 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 12 games remaining in the second half. Somerset wrapped up the season series 5-7
The Somerset Patriots dropped the series finale to the Akron RubberDucks 7-4 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ on Sunday afternoon.
Somerset fell to 4.0 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 12 games remaining in the second half. Somerset wrapped up the season series 5-7 against the RubberDucks, including a 3-3 record at TD Bank Ballpark.
Somerset scored all four of its runs in the seventh inning or later. Across the last two series, Somerset is batting .324 with a .938 OPS and 43 runs scored (3.6 runs/game) in the seventh inning or later.
Somerset pitching combined for double digit strikeouts for the fifth time in the last six games. Against Akron this week, Somerset pitching notched a .310 K% - the highest in Double-A at the time of the game’s conclusion.
Bryce Cunningham (@Yankees No. 9 Prospect) FLASHING the CHANGEUP in a 2⃣-strikeout first inning! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QKI0xPnH4N
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2026
RHP Bryce Cunningham (6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 7 K) made his second start at Double-A. Of Cunningham’s seven strikeouts, he earned five on his changeup and two on his curveball. Cunningham posted seven-plus strikeouts for the second time this year and first time at Double-A. Across two Double-A outings, Cunningham has tallied 13 K to 2 BB in 11.0 IP.
LHP Geoff Gilbert (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) struck out one in a scoreless seventh inning. In his last nine appearances, Gilbert has posted a 1.80 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and .085 BAA with 19 K to 7 BB in 15.0 IP.
DH Jace Avina (1-for-5, R, SB) singled and stole a base in the first inning before scoring a run in the eighth. Avina closed the week 9-for-28 (.321 AVG) with five RBI and three multi-hit games against Akron.
SS Core Jackson (1-for-5, 2B) lasered a double to right center field before scoring in the eighth inning. Jackson’s double marked his third XBH at Double-A and 37th across all levels this season.
Omar Alfonzo (@Yankees No. 29 Prospect) STINGS a 105 MPH RBI single through the right side of the infield! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kciiF5jPbc
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2026
C Omar Alfonzo (1-for-4, RBI) stung a 105 mph RBI single to right field in the eighth inning.
3B Coby Morales (1-for-3, RBI) singled in the seventh inning and picked up an RBI sacrifice fly to score Roderick Arias in the eighth. Morales has reached base safely in 23 of his last 24 games. In that span, he’s slashing .305/.442/.439 with 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 XBH and five multi-hit games.
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