Smith Shoves in Game 2 One-Hitter to Earn Doubleheader Split
The Somerset Patriots split Friday’s doubleheader with the Hartford Yard Goats at at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, CT, falling 8-1 in Game 1, before taking Game 2 with a 6-0 shutout win. With the split, Somerset has won seven of its last 10 games to stay within 2.5 games of
The Somerset Patriots split Friday’s doubleheader with the Hartford Yard Goats at at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, CT, falling 8-1 in Game 1, before taking Game 2 with a 6-0 shutout win.
With the split, Somerset has won seven of its last 10 games to stay within 2.5 games of first-place Reading in the Northeast Division with 20 games remaining in the second half. The Patriots moved to 5-5 against the Yard Goats this season and 6-6 across six doubleheaders this season.
In Game 2, Cade Smith and Kevin Stevens combined for the 11th one-hitter in Somerset history and the first since June 27 at New Hampshire. Smith and Stevens combined for a shutout in Game 2, marking Somerset’s sixth shutout win of the season and first since June 10 vs. Binghamton.
In Game 2, Somerset pounced for two runs in the first inning to boost the Patriots’ first inning run total to 79 this season. Somerset’s 79 first inning runs are tied for the Eastern League lead and are tied for third in Double-A this season.
The Patriots hammered a pair of home runs in Game 2, smashing multiple homers in their 50th game of the season, improving to 35-15 in those contests. Somerset has homered in 10 of its last 14 games. The Patriots’ 166 homers this season lead Double-A and rank ninth in MiLB at the time of the game’s conclusion.
Combining for 3.1 innings allowing one earned run across the two games, Somerset’s bullpen has allowed two or fewer runs in 14 of its last 15 games, pitching to a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP with 75 K to 22 BB in 55.0 IP during the stretch.
RHP Dom Hamel (3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 5 K) struck out five batters in his second start with Somerset this season. Hamel’s five strikeouts were his most since punching out eight batters vs. Lehigh Valley on June 13.
Back-to-back QUALITY STARTS for Cade Smith (@Yankees No. 21 Prospect)!🤩
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 22, 2026
6.0 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 7 K pic.twitter.com/MHfde2ZMGI
RHP Cade Smith (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K) faced two over the minimum across six scoreless innings. Smith notched his second consecutive quality start and sixth of the season to lead all Patriots. In Smith’s last two outings, he’s posted a 0.69 ERA, 2-0 record, 0.38 WHIP, .075 BAA with 13 K to 2 BB and 3 H in 13.0 IP.
RHP Kevin Stevens (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) tossed a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts in Game 2. Stevens recorded his seventh scoreless outing in his last eight appearances. In that span, he’s posted a 1.08 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and .133 BAA with 12 K to 1 BB in 8.1 IP.
Roderick Arias PUMMELS a base hit 108 MPH off the bat 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iKPetTVkvX
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 21, 2026
SS Roderick Arias (3-for-6, 2B, HBP, 2B) tallied his fifth multi-hit effort at Double-A in Game 1, before doubling in Game 2. Arias extended his hit streak to four games. During the stretch, he’s 7-for-16 with 4 XBH, 3 RBI and 6 R. In 16 games with Somerset, Arias has registered 19 hits and is slashing .306/.368/.500 with a HR, 9 XBH and 11 RBI. Arias has reached safely in 14 of 16 games to start his stint with Somerset. Dating back to his time in Hudson Valley, Arias has reached safely in 18 of his last 20 games. In that span, he’s slashing .338/.393/.532 with 12 XBH, 11 RBI and seven multi-hit games.
C, DH Omar Alfonzo (1-for-7, 2B, RBI) lashed an RBI double to left field, scoring Jackson Castillo in the first inning of Game 2.
3B Coby Morales (1-for-4, 2 BB) extended his on-base streak to a season-high tying 16 games by reaching safely in each end of the doubleheader. During Morales’ 16-game on-base streak, he’s slashing .283/.449/.491 with 2 HR, 5 RBI and 5 XBH.
DH, C Manny Palencia (2-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI) crushed an RBI double in the fourth inning of Game 1, before poking an RBI single to right field in the sixth inning of Game 2. Palencia was the only Patriot to record an RBI in each end of the doubleheader. Palencia has reached safely in 12 of his last 13 games. During that stretch, he’s slashing .370/.388/.717 with 4 HR, 14 RBI and 8 XBH. Since the beginning of July, Palencia has nine multi-hit games and is slashing .367/389/.578 with 4 HR, 16 RBI and 11 XBH in that span. Palencia’s .367 AVG leads all Double-A catchers with 95-plus plate appearances in that stretch, while ranking fourth among all Double-A batters.
LF Jackson Castillo (2-for-6, BB, R) worked his 20th multi-hit game of the season in Game 1. Reaching base safely in both ends of the doubleheader, Castillo extended his on-base streak to a season-high 16 games. During Castillo’s 16-game on-base streak, he’s reached base in 25 of 64 plate appearances (.391 OBP)
JOSH MOYLAN OPPOSITE FIELD HOMER 💥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 22, 2026
He SMACKS his ninth HR at Double-A and 22nd across all levels this season! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/MFARU78pA7
1B Josh Moylan (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, R) powered a two-out two-run home run in the fourth inning of Game 2. Moylan’s homer was his ninth at Double-A this season and extended his career-high total to 22 homers across all levels this season.
Connor McGinnis DEMOLISHED this ball OUT OF THE STADIUM! 🤯
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 22, 2026
109 mph exit velo 🔥
427 feet 📏 pic.twitter.com/WhYmRG9yEA
2B Connor McGinnis (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R) belted his ninth homer with Somerset this season in the fifth inning of Game 2. McGinnis slammed his homer out of the stadium over the right field fence. The blast traveled 427 feet and left the bat at 109 mph. Since his first grand slam of the season and first Double-A home run on June 16, McGinnis is slashing .260/.338/.470 with 9 HR, 31 RBI and 19 XBH in 52 games.
RF Luis Durango (2-for-3) worked his fourth multi-hit game with Somerset in Game 2. Durango has hit safely in five straight games for the first time at Double-A. Across 17 games with Somerset, Durango is slashing .395/.480/.465 with five RBI and four multi-hit games.
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