Wesneski's gem puts Patriots one win shy of a playoff berth
Akron, Ohio – Hayden Wesneski (W, 8-4) continued a dominant stretch for the Somerset Patriots (72-45), tossing seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Akron RubberDucks (71-46) on Friday night.
Akron, Ohio – Hayden Wesneski (W, 8-4) continued a dominant stretch for the Somerset Patriots (72-45), tossing seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Akron RubberDucks (71-46) on Friday night.
After plunking the first batter he faced, Wesneski allowed just three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts over the seven frames. The righty retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and has now thrown 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings. Over Wesneski’s last ten starts dating back to July 23, the Texas native is 7-0 with a 2.48 ERA and 70 strikeouts.
What a night for @HWEZ02! 🤯
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 18, 2021
7.0 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 0 ER | 0 BB | 8 K pic.twitter.com/twx4Vf9qB5
Somerset struggled the first time through the order against left-hander Konnor Pilkington. But in the fourth, the Patriots scratched across a pair of runs. Oswaldo Cabrera began the inning with a bunt single up the first base line followed by a hustle double from Michael Beltre. Dermis Garcia and Jesus Bastidas each knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly to push the Patriots ahead 2-0 through four innings.
Barrett Loseke (H, 3) and Zach Greene (S, 2) shut down the RubberDucks over the final two frames to seal Somerset’s minor league-leading 17th shutout win. Pilkington falls to 3-2 after allowing two runs on three hits over five innings.
The Patriots have now won 11 of their last 12 and need just one more win over their final two games to clinch a playoff berth.
Somerset is back in action against Akron tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Canal Park featuring right-hander Thomas Ponticelli (7-5, 3.17) and lefty Ken Waldichuk (4-2, 4.28 ERA).
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.