By: Jake Levy
LANCASTER, PA -- With one on and one out in the seventh inning, Paddy Matera laid a beautiful bunt down the third base line. It trickled along perfectly straight until halfway down the line, when it inexplicably changed direction and rolled foul.
Instead of the bunt base hit, putting two on with one out, Chris Walker was thrown out trying to steal second later in the at bat and Matera was eventually retired; making it an unconventional 1-2-3 inning.
That pretty much sums up Camden's night.
The Camden Riversharks got ten hits in Wednesday's game but score just a pair of runs in a 3-2 loss to the Lancaster Barnstormers in the first of two games at Clipper Magazine stadium.
The Sharks (10-9. 44-44) had hits in each of the first five innings but through three had nothing to show for it. Jake Eigsti finally got the scoring started in the fourth with a double into the left field corner, chasing home Alvin Colina. Pedro Feliz bounced into a fielder's choice in the fifth to score Matera and double the lead, 2-0.
Bryan Corey, meanwhile, was cruising. He allowed just two hits through the first four innings and seemed to be rolling through the ever-difficult Lancaster (10-9, 55-34) lineup. The Barnstormers finally cracked him in the fifth when, after Ryan Harvey led off the inning with a single, Kody Kirkland took one over the left field wall; a two-run shot to tie the game.
Fehlandt Lentini led off the sixth with a single, one of his three hits in the game. He promptly stole second, his second steal of the game to tie Chris Walker for the league lead with 26 for the season. A fly out to right by Blake Gailen allowed Lentini to tag and get to third with one out. With the defense drawn in, Tommy Everidge smacked a sharp ground ball passed a diving Eigsti into left-center to score Lentini and give Lancaster the lead.
That chased Corey (6-7) from the game. He took the loss despite a solid 5.1 innings; allowing three runs on six hits without any walks and striking out three.
John Halama didn't have his best stuff Wednesday but got the win. Halama (8-6) gave up two runs on nine hits in seven innings with a walk and five strikeouts. He allowed hits in six of the seven innings.
James Houser, Leo Rosales and Zach Hammes combined for a scoreless 2.2 innings out of the bullpen to keep the Sharks in it, but the offense couldn't make it happen. Feliz led off the eighth with a single, but a strikeout and 6-4-3 double play ended any potential threat. Tim Hamulack struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his twentieth save of the season, tying John Lujan for the league lead and tying the Barnstormer all-time single season save record.
The Sharks look to even the series and the season series in Thursday's finale. It is the final time the teams play in the regular season. The game is set for 7:05 at Clipper Magazine Stadium. It will be Eddy Camacho (0-1) making his second straight start for Camden. He went five strong innings in his first start. He gave up one run on five hits, getting a no decision. Former Major Leaguer Horacio Ramirez (0-0) takes the hill for the Barnstormers in a showdown of southpaws. The game can be heard on the Riversharks Radio Network. Visit riversharks.com for a link to the action.
The Riversharks return to Campbell's Field Friday to begin a three-game weekend set with the Sugar Land Skeeters. Friday is Pedro Feliz bobble head night, with first pitch set for 7:05 complete with post-game fireworks. For ticket information call 1-866-SHARKS-9, visit riversharks.com or stop by TD Bank Convenience Window at Campbell's Field.
Game Notes:
Seven of the nine Riversharks hitters collected hits in the game.
The Sharks two-through-four hitters combined to go 6-for-11 with a run and RBI.
The Sharks have alternated win-loss each game for their last 16 contests.
Chris Walker was caught stealing in the seventh. The first time since June 20.
Pedro Feliz extended his hitting streak to seven games, with five multi-hit games and eight RBIs during the streak.
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