Patriots Squander 2 HRs in 9th-Inning Loss to Sea Dogs, Snap 5-Game Winning Streak

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Somerset Patriots fell to the Portland Sea Dogs 7-6 in a late-inning thriller on Thursday night at TD Bank Ballpark in game three of a six-game series. The loss snaps Somerset’s five-game win streak, their longest of the season.

RHP Trystan Vrieling (5 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K) did not factor into a decision in his 19th outing (18th start) of the season. Vrieling has pitched to a 2.84 ERA over four July starts with 12 K in 19 IP. The Yankees No. 22 prospect ranks among Eastern League leaders with 101.2 IP (T-4th) and 93 K (6th).

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

LHP Josh Maciejewski (3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K) hurled 3 IP of one-run ball with 3 K, with his only run allowed scoring on Nick Decker’s home run off McKinley Moore following Maciejewski’s departure.

SS Alexander Vargas (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) launched a grand slam to open the scoring in the 2nd inning, his second homer of the season. With runners in scoring position this season for Somerset, Vargas is 10-for-21 (.476) with 1 HR and 18 RBI. In the sixth inning on, Vargas is batting .302 with 9 RBI this season. Over his last 11 games since 6/13 @BNG, Vargas is batting .395 with 2 HR, 14 RBI, and a 1.068 OPS. In four games since returning from the injured list, Vargas is 6-for-15 (.400) with 8 RBI. Thursday represented Vargas’s sixth multi-hit showing of the season and third multi-RBI game.

C Rafael Flores (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) cracked a solo homer in the 8th inning, homering for the second straight day. Flores has reached base in eight of his last nine contests, with 6 RBI over his last six games. Thursday marked Flores’s 22nd total multi-hit game of the season and fifth with Somerset. Flores’s 11 HR mark a single season career high. Flores’s long ball was sent 419 ft, 109 MPH off the bat, following a 107 MPH single in the 3rd.

2B Caleb Durbin (1-for-4, 2B, R, SB) doubled, stole third base, and scored on a sacrifice fly in the 5th inning in his first game since 5/23 when he was hit on the hand by a pitch as a member of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes/Barre.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Patriots' batters struck out 14 times, including lead-off hitter Spencer Jones, who continues to struggle at the plate; He was o-5, with four strikeouts.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net