BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Despite a 10-strikeout performance from starter Kendry Rojas, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (5-10, 34-50) fell to the Somerset Patriots (10-5, 45-39) at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday night, 1-0.

Neither team scored until the Patriots plated the game’s only run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a ground ball to center field by shortstop George Lombard Jr.

In his second Double-A start, Rojas (TOR No. 8, MLB Pipeline) held Somerset off the scoreboard through five innings and didn’t allow a run on two hits with no walks and a new season-high 10 strikeouts. Reliever Nate Garkow struck out a pair in two scoreless innings. New Hampshire’s Conor Larkin (L, 3-3) struck out a batter and issued a walk before he allowed back-to-back hits and the game’s only run.

Rojas’ 10 punchouts were the most by a Fisher Cats pitcher since Devereaux Harrison fanned 10 on July 19, 2024, in Harrisburg. Garkow has allowed one earned run in 14-2/3 innings pitched in 10 games in Double-A with 21 strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 0.61.

Somerset starter Trent Sellers paced Rojas with 5-1/3 scoreless innings pitched, allowing one hit and four walks with six strikeouts. Reliever Bailey Dees (W, 5-4) grabbed the win with 2-2/3 scoreless, hitless innings with a pair of punchouts. Righty Indigo Diaz (S, 2) surrendered a double and a walk but stranded the potential game-tying and go-ahead runners at first and second.

New Hampshire and Somerset continue their series with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch on Friday. Blue Jays No. 15 prospect (MLB Pipeline) Juaron Watts-Brown (1-2, 2.90 ERA) gets the start for the Fisher Cats, and lefty Ben Shields (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his third start for the Patriots this season.