Garcia powers Patriots to 7-6 win
Reading, Penn. - The Somerset Patriots (45-29) got a big night out of Dermis Garcia and held off a late rally to take down the Reading Fightin’ Phils (30-45) with a 7-6 win Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Garcia went 2-for-5 with a grand slam (18) and a career-high five
Reading, Penn. - The Somerset Patriots (45-29) got a big night out of Dermis Garcia and held off a late rally to take down the Reading Fightin’ Phils (30-45) with a 7-6 win Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Garcia went 2-for-5 with a grand slam (18) and a career-high five RBI to lead the way. His seventh inning grand slam sent the Patriots ahead 6-3 at the time. It marked the second grand slam for Somerset this year. He then added a two-out RBI double in the ninth to set a new career mark in runs batted in.
🚨 DERMIS GARCIA GRAND SLAM 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3AwZvyr22a
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 30, 2021
The Patriots carried a 7-4 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Fightin’ Phils rallied for two runs on a Jack Conley (3) solo home run and a Madison Stokes two-out RBI single to get back within a run. Michael Gomez (SV, 2) later struck out Luke Miller with the bases loaded to end the game and preserve the win.
Reading struck first with three runs off Somerset starter Hayden Wesneski in the bottom of the fifth to take the first lead. Wesneski had faced one over the minimum through his first four innings before a pair of RBI singles from Granny Cumana and Matt Kroon, along with a run-scoring wild pitch, put the R-Phils in front.
Oswaldo Cabrera (14) launched a two-run home run in the sixth to bring Somerset back within a run. The homer extended Cabrera’s on-base streak to 19-consecutive games.
Wandy Peralta (W, 1-0) -- on a rehab assignment with the Patriots -- earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. The New York Yankees southpaw struck out one and walked one across 18 pitches in his lone inning on the mound.
Carlo Reyes (L, 1-1) allowed four unearned runs and was saddled with the loss.
The Patriots and Fightin’ Phils continue their series Friday night. Ken Waldichuk (3-1, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound for Somerset against Reading right-hander Adam Leverett (0-3, 10.64 ERA). First pitch at FirstEnergy Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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.
To learn more, visit: _www.somersetpatriots.com_.