Palencia Stays Hot as Patriots Falter Late in Hartford
The Somerset Patriots dropped the series opener to the Hartford Yard Goats 6-5 at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, CT on Tuesday evening. The loss kept Somerset to 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 23 games remaining in the second half. The Patriots fell to 3-4
The Somerset Patriots dropped the series opener to the Hartford Yard Goats 6-5 at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, CT on Tuesday evening.
The loss kept Somerset to 2.5 games back of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 23 games remaining in the second half.
The Patriots fell to 3-4 against the Yard Goats this season. With the loss, Somerset dropped to 18-21 in one-run games this season. Somerset’s 39 one-run games are tied with Richmond for the most in the Eastern League.
Down 1-0 after two innings, Somerset tallied four consecutive one-out hits in the third inning to bring home three runs.
In the fifth inning, Somerset rallied with two outs on a walk from Coby Morales and a single from Connor McGinnis before Manny Palencia ripped an opposite field two-RBI double. Somerset’s .265 AVG with two outs this season ranks second in Double-A and ninth in MiLB.
With stolen bases from Coby Morales and Cole Gabrielson, Somerset has stolen a base in nine of its last 10 games for the first time in the second half. Somerset’s 21 stolen bases in that span rank third-most in the Eastern League.
Sean Paul Liñan has his first Double-A strikeout! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/uQ7cwkf0Tp
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 18, 2026
RHP Sean Paul Liñan (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K) made his Double-A debut. Liñan worked at least five innings for the third time this season across all levels. Liñan joined Jack Cebert as the second pitcher on Hudson Valley’s Opening Day roster to start a game for Somerset this season.
Combining for 4.0 innings allowing two earned runs in relief of Sean Paul Liñan, Somerset’s bullpen has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of its last 12 games, pitching to a 2.78 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP with 60 K to 17 BB in 45.1 IP during the stretch.
Roderick Arias SMASHES a double down the left field line!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 18, 2026
It's his SIXTH XBH in just 13 games at Double-A 👀 pic.twitter.com/GXotaAALVs
SS Roderick Arias (1-for-5, 2B, R) powered a double down the left field line in the third inning. In 13 games with Somerset, Arias has registered 13 hits and is slashing .255/.321/.431 with a HR, 6 XBH and 8 RBI. Arias has reached safely in 11 of 13 games to start his stint with Somerset. Dating back to his time in Hudson Valley, Arias has reached safely in 15 of his last 17 games. In that span, he’s slashing .303/.361/.485 with 9 XBH, 8 RBI and five multi-hit games.
C Omar Alfonzo (1-for-5, RBI, R) smashed a hard-hit RBI single into right field to score Arias in the third inning, extending his on-base streak to seven games. Alfonzo’s five RBI across Somerset’s last four games are tied with Manny Palencia for the most among all Patriots.
RF DJ Gladney (2-for-5, R) smacked a single in the ninth inning to secure his 25th multi-hit game of the season. Gladney has reached base in 16 of his last 17 games. With hits in 14 games during that span, Gladney is slashing .333/.365/.652 with 6 HR, 10 XBH and 21 RBI.
Coby Morales SMOKES a single, extending his on-base streak to 13 games! pic.twitter.com/MOnlr4cGBm
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 18, 2026
3B Coby Morales (2-for-2, 2 BB, R, SB) reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances. Morales increased his on-base streak to 13 games with a single in the second inning. In the third inning, Morales singled again to snatch his team-leading 29th multi-hit game. In the seventh inning, Morales stole second base for his 20th stolen base of the year. Morales’ 20 SB mark his second 20-SB season and first since a career-high 34 SB in 2024. During Morales’ 13-game on-base streak, he’s slashing .295/.466/.477 with a HR, 4 RBI and 4 XBH.
2B Connor McGinnis (1-for-2, 2 BB) reached base safely in each of his first three plate appearances. McGinnis extended his on-base streak to a single season career-best 14 games. In that span, he’s slashing .229/.345/.354 with 2 HR, 10 RBI and 2 XBH. Since his first grand slam of the season and first Double-A home run on June 16, McGinnis is slashing .258/.338/.455 with 8 HR, 30 RBI and 18 XBH in 50 games.
Manny Palencia is the HOTTEST HITTING CATCHER at Double-A 🔥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 19, 2026
He belts a go-ahead 2⃣-RBI double for his 10th XBH in his last 22 games! pic.twitter.com/htjWoNm1m4
DH Manny Palencia (1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI) tallied a season-high three RBI. After a sacrifice fly to score Gladney in the third inning, Palencia clubbed a two-out RBI double down the right field line in the fifth inning to score Morales and McGinnis.
Reaching safely in nine of his last 10 games, Palencia is slashing .378/.385/.784 with seven XBH in that span. After rocking just one extra base hit prior to July, Palencia’s 10 XBH since July 1 have raised his season-long OPS from .504 to .674 in 22 games. Since the beginning of July, Palencia has nine multi-hit games and is slashing .370/.388/.593 with 4 HR, 14 RBI and 10 XBH in that span. Palencia’s .370 AVG leads all Double-A catchers with 85-plus plate appearances in that stretch.
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