Somerset defeated Reading 4-1 with pitcher and Yankees prospect Cam Schlittler almost shutting out the Reading Fightin’ Phils.
Somerset came into this game and series against Reading, 1-4 on the season and looking for a win to start digging themselves out of the deficit after gaining only one win last week against Hartford. Reading came into this matchup with a 2-3 record looking to get back to .500.
Somerset was dominant from the get-go, getting two runs at the bottom of the second with a single from Tyler Hardman that sent Garret Martin home and Alexander Vargas grounding out and driving in Cole Gabrielson.
Reading was able to score a run with Caleb Ricketts scoring after Luis Verdugo grounded out at the top of the 5th. Much of the offensive pressure would end there as Somerset fired right back. Somerset was able to close out the show in the bottom of the 5th and 7th inning with Max Burt and Alexander Vargas scoring respectively.
Shortstop Vargas had a great day with a 1.288 OPS in four at-bats, an RBI, two hits and a run scored to close out the game. He also came out of the game with a .750 slugging. So far Vargas has been at bat 12 times this season and is looking like Somerset’s best player.
Another dominant performance from today’s game was Somerset’s pitching, especially the aforementioned Yankees 7th round draft pick and prospect Cam Schlittler posting a 1.68 ERA across five innings of work. On the other hand, Reading had a rough day pitching with starter Jean Cabrera having a 4.00 ERA in four innings while the three relievers who came into the game for Reading all had ERA’s higher than 9.00.
The Somerset Patriots and Reading Fightin’ Phils will face off again this Friday April 11 to close out this series that is currently gridlocked at one a piece.
