Patriots 9, Fisher Cats 4
- Updated: September 8, 2025
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-41, 50-81) dropped the series finale to the Somerset Patriots (35-28, 70-62) at TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday afternoon, 9-4.
New Hampshire second baseman Eddinson Paulino hit his 12th homer of the year in the top of the sixth inning, but the Fisher Cats could not overcome an early eight-run deficit and lost their 13th consecutive game.
Making his second start of the week, New Hampshire’s Fernando Perez (L, 0-3) struggled through the bottom of the first, finishing with five runs on six hits and one walk while collecting two strikeouts over one inning.
Somerset’s Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (W, 4-3) stifled New Hampshire for the second time this week, collecting eight strikeouts across five scoreless, two-hit, innings pitched. Five Somerset relievers split up the final four innings, starting with righty Hayden Merda, who allowed four runs on two hits in 2/3 relief innings. Geoffrey Gilbert, Danny Watson, Kelly Austin and Will Brian then pieced together 3 1/3 scoreless frames to secure the Patriots’ sixth consecutive.
Top takeaways:
- INF/OF Raimundo De Los Santos knocks first Double-A hit in debut
- INF Eddinson Paulino goes 2-for-3 with 12th homer
- C Jacob Sharp reaches safely three times, finishes 1-for-2 with two walks
The Patriots sent five batters to the plate and erupted for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman George Lombard Jr. drove in the first run with a double and first baseman Tyler Hardman followed by doubling in Lombard Jr. to make it 2-0. Catcher Manny Palencia’s two-run single capped the rally and Somerset led, 5-0, after the first frame.
Leading 7-0, Somerset’s Hardman left the yard to lead off the top of the fourth inning, extending the Patriots’ lead to 8-0.
Trailing 8-0 in the top of the sixth inning, the Fisher Cats cracked the scoreboard after opening the frame with a pair of walks from third baseman Charles McAdoo and designated hitter Jace Bohrofen. Right fielder Je’Von Ward cashed in New Hampshire’s first run on a single to center field, cutting Somerset’s lead to 8-1. The Fisher Cats then drew within four on Paulino’s three-run shot to right field to make it 8-4. It was Paulino’s 12th homer of the year and he finished 2-for-3 after entering the game in the bottom of the fourth inning for center fielder Gabriel Martinez.
Somerset added one more run on Palencia’s double in the bottom of the sixth inning, finalizing Sunday’s score at 9-4.
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