Rockies Top Prospect Adael Amador with Hit and Run but Not Enough in 3-1 loss

*Final: Somerset 3, Hartford 1 *

WP- Matt Sauer (3-3)

LP- Joe Rock (1-10)

S-Jack Neely (1)

T- 2:13

Bridgewater, NJ- Somerset first baseman Agustin Ramirez hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning, and Matt Sauer and two relievers held Hartford to just one run on four hits as the Patriots defeated the Yard Goats 3-1 on Saturday night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Hartford starter Joe Rock pitched well, surrendered only two runs in six innings, and recorded seven strikeouts. Somerset has won four of the first five games of the six-game series.

The Yard Goats took a 1-0 lead with a run in the third inning against Somerset starter Matt Sauer. Rockies #1 prospect Adael Amador cracked a single to right field and took second base on a throw error during a pick off attempt. Later in the inning, Yanquiel Fernandez ripped a single into right field and Amador scored from second base, giving Hartford a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Yard Goats starter Joe Rock did not allow a run over the first four innings and had five strikeouts. He worked out of a bases loaded one-out situation in the second inning. However, in the fifth inning Patriots catcher Ben Rice came up with a two out single, and Agustin Ramirez followed with a two-run homer, giving Somerset a 2-1 lead. Rock retired four of the next five batters in six full innings.

The Patriots added a run in the seventh inning on Ben Rice’s RBI single, scoring Caleb Durbin to make it 3-1. Sauer went six full innings and allowed just one run on three hits for Somerset. Tanner Myatt and Jack Neely finished the game and only allowed two base runners on a single and a walk.

The Yard Goats conclude the six-game road trip in Somerset, New Jersey on Sunday afternoon (1:05 PM). RHP Case Williams will start for Hartford and RHP Blane Abeyta will start for Somerset. The game will be broadcast on AM 1410, FM 100.9 and on the iheart radio app.