Green’s Two-Hitter Leads Patriots Past Skeeters 3-0

Added by Philip Mathew on July 25, 2012.

In the second half of a day/night doubleheader, the Somerset Patriots defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 3-0 in front of 4,059 at TD Bank Ballpark Tuesday night. Coming off a 6-5 decision in the afternoon, Somerset was looking for their 11th win against Sugar Land in 13 games.

Somerset starter Sean Green was looking for his third win in four starts since joining the Patriots on July 4.  Sugar Land countered with Heath Phillips and both pitchers were on their game early in this contest. 

Sugar Land would get the first hit of the game, via former Patriot Matt Hagen.  In the top of the third inning, Hagen singled to left field and Octavio Martinez followed by reaching first on an error by Somerset shortstop Dan DeGeorge.  After a strikeout and groundout, the Skeeters had runners at the corners.  They would strand two runners in the inning, leaving empty-handed.

While Green surrendered a hit, Phillips took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.  Ryan Kiniry singled to left field for the first Somerset hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Kiniry would steal second and advance to third on a throwing error by Pressley.  A hit by Freddie Bynum gave Somerset runners at 1st and 2nd, but both would be stranded. 

For Somerset, the game turned on the bottom of the seventh inning.  Jeff Nettles led off the frame with his 999th career Atlantic League hit.  Jake Fox followed with a power shot over the left field fence for a 2-0 Patriots lead.  The advantage would become three after DeGeorge beat out an infield grounder and scored from first on Kiniry’s two out double to the right field fence. 

Green pitched a complete game shutout, surrendering two hits and striking out seven for his third win with the Patriots.  Phillips drops to 1-6 on the season, after taking a no-hitter to the sixth inning.  Somerset and Sugar Land conclude their mid-week series with a game tonight, scheduled for 7:05 p.m. first pitch.  After this series, the Patriots host Southern Maryland for four games before starting an eight game road trip on Monday.