History in Somerset
Bridgewater, New Jersey- The excitement around the Somerset Patriots was high before Sunday’s game even began. Rehabbing New York Yankees star Luis Severino took the mound and was blowing Bowie Baysox batters away, exciting Yankees fans as they anxiously wait for the pitcher to make his return to the Bronx.
Bridgewater, New Jersey- The excitement around the Somerset Patriots was high before Sunday’s game even began. Rehabbing New York Yankees star Luis Severino took the mound and was blowing Bowie Baysox batters away, exciting Yankees fans as they anxiously wait for the pitcher to make his return to the Bronx.
“I saw total domination,” said Somerset pitching coach Daniel Moskos after the game. "I saw a guy who was completely locked in. The first time out you saw some of those jitters. It had been a long time since he pitched. (On Sunday), you saw a guy who is not far away from being ready to pitch in Yankee Stadium.
The two-time All-Star threw four scoreless frames with five strikeouts to kick off an historic night for the team. The Patriots completed the first no-hitter in club history through a combination of Severino, Shawn Semple, and Ron Marinaccio.
Four PERFECT frames for @LuisSeverino94! 🤩
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 8, 2021
Give a look at all five of his strikeouts tonight. You could say that he looks ready ⤵️ #SquadUp pic.twitter.com/H7vnjTaZZF
With Severino still on a tight pitch count, Semple came in to relieve him in the fifth inning. Since returning to Somerset, Semple has been nearly untouchable, and this appearance was no exception.
“He’s an absolute bulldog,” Moskos said. “He just picked up where Sevy left off, he was locked in as well, and he came in pounding the zone.”
Semple, who started the year in Somerset before an assignment in High-A Hudson Valley, was so focused that he didn’t realize what was happening until he settled into the dugout in the ninth.
"I wasn’t even thinking about it until the end, and then all of a sudden, it just kind of hit me, and I’m like, ‘wow, this is a very good part of history to be a part of with the Patriots,’” said Semple. “I know there have been some no-hitters around the league, but it’s cool for our team to put it together today, especially behind Severino, and it’s just electric.”
Just guys being dudes and throwing no-hitters! pic.twitter.com/4UJtz3Otpx
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 9, 2021
While Semple pushed through his four innings with just 40 pitches thrown, Marinaccio got the call in the ninth inning. While fans may have assumed that Semple would finish the game, manager Julio Mosquera knew the importance of focusing on player development.
“We had a plan in place. We wanted to get Marinaccio an inning in there,” he explained. “We’ve got to go out there and continue to develop players. It was nice to see it go on, but we’ve got to stick to our plan and try to develop the guys who need to develop.”
Due to the superstitious nature of baseball, no one had mentioned the game status in the bullpen. Before going in, the Toms River native was unsure if everyone was aware of the perfect game he was walking into.
“I, at a point, thought that maybe I was the only one that knew,” said Marinaccio. “So I didn’t want to say anything either and throw anything out there, but I definitely knew. I was well aware.”
When he entered the game, the elusive perfect game was still intact. Marinaccio started the inning by striking out Cadyn Grenier before issuing a four-pitch walk to Zach Watson.
Unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/A9ShmKpXOj
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 9, 2021
"It kind of stinks that I mixed that walk in there, but it happens. It’s been part of my game all year, a walk here and there,” Marinaccio reflected. “But I think the thing I’m excited about is being able to settle back down and finish it off for the team.”
Marinaccio got a groundout to short before the final out was a fly ball to right field. Semple was the first Patriot streaking onto the field to celebrate with someone he has trained with throughout his time in the minors.
“It was super special, and having Severino start the game and Shawn, somebody that I’ve come up with since 2017, me and him being able to pitch in Double-A this year behind Severino, is just pretty freaking awesome.” said Marinaccio.
Mosquera reflected on the victory and recited a statement he’s made all year, “These guys are going to come and compete, they are going to give us a chance, and they really gave us a chance today.”
Moskos echoed this sentiment, “There’s a reason that there aren’t more of them thrown, and even to take a perfect game into the ninth. Those are definitely even more rare.”
The Patriots now join both the New York Yankees and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as teams to throw no-hitters within the Yankee organization in 2021. In a historic year of first for the Patriots, this one will never be forgotten.
By Lexi Semanchik | SomersetPatriots.Com Beat Writer
Lexi Semanchik is a resident of Flemington, New Jersey and a rising senior at Emerson College majoring in Sports Communications.