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Patriots clinch division behind Bastidas blasts

September 16, 2021

Akron, Ohio – Jesus Bastidas launched a pair of three-run home runs to lead the Somerset Patriots (71-45) to a 10-4 win over the Akron RubberDucks (71-45) on Thursday night at Canal Park. The win has wrapped up the Patriots the best record in the Northeast Division, though a playoff

Akron, Ohio – Jesus Bastidas launched a pair of three-run home runs to lead the Somerset Patriots (71-45) to a 10-4 win over the Akron RubberDucks (71-45) on Thursday night at Canal Park. The win has wrapped up the Patriots the best record in the Northeast Division, though a playoff berth has still not yet been clinched.

BOX SCORE 9/16/21

Oswaldo Cabrera got the scoring started with a solo home run, his 23rd of the season. But, the RubberDucks responded when Brayan Lavastida and George Valera each batted in a run in the bottom half of the inning. Akron held a 2-1 lead through the first.

The lead wouldn’t last long though.Dermis Garcia (30) launched a solo home run to centerfield to leadoff the second and tie the game at two. The Garcia homer matched the franchise record for home runs in a single season with Josh Pressley and Brandon Larson, who both hit the mark in 2008.

Akron jumped back in front in the fourth after Victor Nova drove in a run to make it a 3-2 score.

In the sixth, with two on and two out, Bastidas (4) crushed a three-run home run to left field to push Somerset ahead 5-3. Akron got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, but two innings later it was Bastidas (5) again with a three-run shot to cap off a four-run inning. Somerset extended its lead to 10-4 when Mickey Gasper drove in his second run of the contest in the top of the ninth.

Bastidas finished the night 3-for-5 with his first multi-homer game of his career and a career-high six RBI. The Patriots have now hit 18 home runs over their last six contests.

Randy Vasquez (2-1)earned the win after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three. Ben Krauth (2-2) is handed the loss in Somerset’s longest nine-inning game of the season (3:40).

With the win, the Patriots have clinched their first-ever Double-A Northeast League Northeast Division championship. However, the team has not yet clinched a playoff berth.

Somerset continues its playoff push, now tied with Akron for first place, tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Hayden Wesneski is slated to take the mound against Konnor Pilkington at Canal Park.

About the Somerset Patriots

The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots compete in the Double-A Northeast League and play their home games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball.