SOON.

Another Day, Another Bullpen Meltdown, 'Sharks Lose 10-3

Ryan Harvey was having a bad night.

The 'Stormers designated hitter had struck out swinging in each of his first three at bats. With his team leading 4-3 in the seventh inning, Harvey was at the dish again, with two men on, staring at an 0-2 count from 'Sharks reliever Spencer Steedley.

If you've followed the misadventures of the Camden Riversharks bullpen at all this season, you already know how this story ends.

Harvey drilled Steedley's next pitch to the base of the centerfield wall, scoring Blake Gailen and Tommy Everidge, and putting the 'Stormers up 6-3. Lancaster went on to score three more times in the inning, on RBI singles from Francisco Hernandez and Bridger Hunt, to take a 9-3 lead into the eighth. They went on to win 10-3.

Let's back up a minute. The 'Sharks, suddenly finding themselves with a hole in their starting rotation due to Sean Jarrett's DL stint, and with their tired bullpen in shambles, need pitching help in the worst way possible.

The worst way possible, for those unaware, is the nightmare trifeca of Spencer Steedley, Josh Walter, and Zach Hammes, who combined have been scored on more times than Sasha Grey in estrous.

So it was with some relief that I learned Eddy Camacho, late of the "Venezuelan Visa Problems" episode, was stepping in to a starting role. Camacho indeed had problems earlier in the season finding the strike zone, but as of late had pitched well when needed. He went five innings tonight, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out four. Not dominant, but he battled, and he wasn't the main problem.

Neither was the 'Sharks offense, with their fourteen hits, thought they had major trouble driving in runs tonight. And while Jake Eigsti's 0 for 4, grounding into two inning ending double plays performance was frustrating, you've gotta find solace in Chris Walker's 3 for 5 night, or Pedro Feliz' solo shot in the fourth that tied the game.

No, the main problem, as it has been for the entire second half so far, is the bullpen. More specifically, Steedley, Walter and Hammes. Steedley and Walter's ERA's are the team's worst, at 6.29 and 6.30. As long as these three clowns are our only 'pen options, the 'Sharks might as well pack it in and hope for a better 2013. Compare that to Leo Rosales, who at 1.13 has the team's BEST ERA. Or Lujan, and his 20 saves. Heck, even Blake King is pitching better. Change is needed, but sadly, it seems the options are few.

Perez Homers Twice In 7-5 Win, Lujan Earns Save #19

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Riversharks tied the series at two games each against the Skeeters with a win in game four by the final score of 7-5 at Constellation Field in front of 6249 Sunday evening.

Heath Phillips got the call for the Skeeters in the series finale in his 12th start of the season. The lefty carried a one-run lead into the top of the third thanks to Josh Pressley’s RBI single in the first that scored Dominic Ramos after a leadoff double, but struggled when he reached the third. 

Jake Eigsti led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout in the following at-bat. Chris Walker brought him home with an RBI single to tie the game at one-a-piece. Lloyd Turner reached on a single of his own to put runners on first and second with one out in the inning, but the damage came when Eduardo Perez came to the plate.

The right fielder notched his fifth home run of the season with a long-ball to left giving the visitors a 4-1 lead.

Sugar Land battled back in the bottom of the fourth after keeping Camden off the board in the visitor-half of the inning off Keith Weiser (5-5). Matt Hagen led off with a double off the top of the wall in left-center field and was brought home in the next at-bat by Iggy Suarez. The second baseman popped a long shot off the signage of the picnic plaza down the left-field line for his fourth home run of the season to cut the deficit down to one, 4-3.

Pedro Liriano relieved Phillips in the fifth inning with the team down one, but the right hander gave up a one-out solo home run to former major leaguer Pedro Feliz that doubled the lead, 5-3. In the seventh, Liriano again gave up the long ball to the switch-hitting Perez. After cranking a homer off Phillips in the third from the right-side of the plate, Perez knocked a solo shot off Liriano from the left side to increase the lead up to three, 6-3.

The Skeeters scored one run in the bottom of the seventh after Pressley singled and scored on an Octavio Martinez RBI single,6-4, but Camden scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Walker came around on an RBI single from Feliz to re-up the lead to three, 7-4.

John Lujan came in to pitch a scoreless eighth, but in the ninth struggled to get through cleanly. Matt Hagen knocked the seventh home run of the series off Lujan and the second of the game for Sugar Land in the leadoff spot to cut the lead back down to two, 7-5, but Lujan managed to get Ramos to ground into an inning-ending six-unassisted to first double play to end the game.

Walker, Texas, And Bullpen Game Changers

SUGAR LAND, Texas – Three long balls capped a four-run comeback for the Skeeters in game one against the Riversharks Thursday night in front of 6008 at Constellation Field. With the Lancaster Barnstormers postponed, Sugar Land moves into a tie for first in the Freedom Division.

Scott Kazmir made his fourth start of the season since joining the Skeeters before the All-Star Break. The lefty stumbled out of the gates in the first inning giving up a leadoff home run (8) to center fielder Chris Walker to put the opposing side on top 1-0 early. Kazmir struck out the final two batters in the first to retire the side before the Skeeters came to bat in the bottom of the first. 

Righty Kevin Reese (3-4) got the nod for his 11th start of the season and quickly gave up the lead when Dominic Ramos scored from third on Jason Lane’s groundout to first to even it up, 1-1. After the second baseman started the inning with a single into right, Ramos was pushed to the opposite corner when Bubba Bell knocked a single through the left side of the infield.

Kazmir managed to escape the second and the third innings without allowing a run, but once the fourth started, the former major leaguer lost the lead. Alvin Colina singled into left to start the inning and was quickly pushed to second by Jake Eigsti’s single into left center. Two batters later, Lloyd Turner walked to load the bases and with one out. The lineup went back to the top for Walker, and in his third at-bat of the evening, the Mississippi native launched his second home run (9) of the game, a grand slam (1), into the picnic plaza to break the deadlock, 5-1.

Pedro Liriano (5-3) entered the game for Kazmir and retired the first two batters he faced to end the inning before the Skeeters responded in the bottom half of the inning. Josh Pressley started the home-half with a walk on five pitches, and scored during the next at-bat when left fielder Aaron Bates punched his second ticket of the season over the left-field wall to bring the Skeeters back to within two with the two-run homer, 5-3.

Liriano retired the side 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, and Sugar Land threatened again in the bottom of the inning. With one out and the bases empty, Ofilio Castro and Bell reached with back-to-back singles. Two batters later with runners on first and second and two outs gone, Pressley tied the game with his 13th double of the season. The big first baseman hammered a high fastball into deep right-center field scoring both Castro and Bell to knot it up for the second time, 5-5. Then, Bates gave the Skeeters their first lead of the game with his second extra-base-hit in as many at-bats, a double into left-center field. Pressley scored easily to put the Skeeters ahead after five, 6-5.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Sugar Land imposed its power in the sixth. Lefty reliever Spencer Steedley entered the game to pitch for Camden but faltered early after getting the first out. Lane and Pressley used back-to-back home runs to increase the lead by two, 8-3. It was Lane’s first home run (6) since July 8 and Pressley’s 10th of the season.

Jeff Farnsworth worked a scoreless seventh and Roberto Giron a scoreless eighth before Gary Majewski came into to shut down the ninth with his 13th save of the season.

McGuire's Matinee Masterpiece

In his longest outing of the season thus far, Mike McGuire threw seven and two thirds innings of absolutely stellar baseball this afternoon at Campbell's Field, holding the Lancaster Barnstormers to one run on five hits. The Riversharks went on to win 2-1, and now sit just a half game behind the first place Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Liberty Division.

The 'Sharks two runs each came on solo homers, from Raul Padron in the 2nd, and from Eddy Perez in the 3rd. Perez, a 2012 AL All Star, finished the day going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run. Not bad for a guy "we just picked up off the scrap heap until Pedro gets here..."

McGuire exited with two outs in the eighth, and Spencer Steedley threw exactly one pitch to Blake Gailen, getting the Lancaster left fielder to ground out to first to end the inning. John Lujan (incorrectly announced as "Josh Walter" by the guy who fills in for Kevin Casey) came on in the ninth. After loading the bases on a hit and two walks, Lujan got Bridger Hunt to ground into a 1-2-3 DP to end the game and pick up his 17th save of 2012.

Notes: Chris Walker came within a whisker of the dreaded Golden Sombrero, striking out in each of his first three at bats before finally grounding out to second base in the 8th. Still, 0 for 4 with three K's is a day I'm sure he'd rather forget.

Since returning from the DL on July 19th, Lloyd Turner has gone a worrisome 2 for 17.

Corey's Not So Hot Line

The York Revolution knocked 'Sharks starting pitcher Bryan Corey out of the game before he could record a single out today, on their way to an eventual 8-6 victory at Campbell's Field.

The Revs first seven batters pounded Corey for five runs on four hits before he was finally pulled for reliever Blake King. King got Travis Scott and Chris Nowak on a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play for outs one and two, and Danny Gonzalez popped out to Jake Eigsti to mercifully end the inning.

Amazingly, Camden got three runs back in the bottom of the frame. Eddy Perez singled in Chris Walker, a Pedro Feliz double scored Perez, and Raul Padron's grounder to second scored Brian Burgamy to make it 5-3. AFTER ONE.

Both teams settled down after that first inning insanity until, in the fifth, the 'Sharks tied the game at 5-5. Feliz belted his 5th home run of the year, and Raul Padron scored on a Wade Korpi wild pitch. Blake King and Eddy Camacho had combined for five shutout innings, and it seemed like momentum was on Camden's side.

Until...

In the top of the sixth, York scored three more runs, this time off reliever Mariano Gomez, to take an 8-5 lead. Camden cut it to 8-6 in the eighth when Brian Burgamy launched his 12th homer over the outfield wall, but York closer Ricardo Gomez shut the 'Sharks down in the ninth, picking up his fifth save of 2012.

'Sharks Walkup Music Redux, Pt. I: Chris Walker

Leading off, you want to send a message to the opposition right away. You need a song that says. "I am a BAMF. Be afraid." Something loud. And scary. And "in your face". 

You can't get much louder, scarier, or more "in your face" than vintage PE. So, imho, Walker should come out to "By The Time I Get To Arizona" by Public Enemy.

'Sharks Survive Late Rally, Beat Revs 6-5

The York Revolution scored twice in the ninth inning to cut the 'Sharks lead to a single run, but closer John Lujan struck out Ramon Castro for out number three, sealing the victory for Camden and earning Lujan his league leading 15th save.

Ricky Brooks got his sixth win of the season, but the righty battled all game, giving up a towering solo home run in the first to Castro that put the Revs up 1-0 right away.

Camden tied the game in the bottom of the first when a Pedro Feliz sac fly scored Chris Walker

Brooks got into more trouble in the third when an RBI single by Andres Perez plated Scott Grimes. Chris Nowak then grounded into an around the horn double play that scored Castro, but Brooks retired Michael Hernandez to escape the inning with the Revs up 3-1.


The 'Sharks took the lead back in the bottom half of the inning, a sac fly from Raul Padron scored Lloyd Turner, Alvin Colina's double off the wall scored Brian Burgamy, and Steve Doetsch singled in Colina to make it 4-3. 


Camden got two more runs in the fourth when another Feliz sac fly scored Patty Matera, and Colina singled to scored Burgamy. 


Brooks exited after five innings, giving way to the bullpen. Leo Rosales, Josh Walter and All Star Zach Hammes retired the Revs in order over the next three innings of work, setting the table for Lujan. 


Notes: Lloyd Turner exited the game in the third inning, Paddy Matera replaced him at second base. 

El Scorcho By Weiser

Keith Weiser threw six innings of shutout baseball and the Camden Riversharks provided just enough offense to defeat the Lancaster Barnstormers 2-1 tonight at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Weiser allowed five hits while striking out three in his longest outing this season.

The 'Sharks got to Lancaster starter John Halama early. In the first, Chris Walker led off with a single, stole second, and took third on a throwing error by catcher Emerson Frostad. A Lloyd Turner sac fly scored Walker, and two batters later Raul Padron's RBI single scored Brian Burgamy to make it 2-0.

Which it would remain for nearly the entire game. Weiser got some help from the 'Sharks defense, the 'Stormers grounded into two inning ending double plays in the first and third.

Spencer Steedley worked a scoreless inning in relief of Weiser, and the got the 'Stormers to ground into ANOTHER inninng ending double play in the seventh.

Lancaster's lone run came in the eighth off reliever Zach Hammes. Jaime Pedroza's ground out scored pinch hitter Terry Tifee from third to cut the lead to 2-1. But that was as close as the 'Stormers would get. John Lujan came on in the ninth and retired the side in order to earn his Atlantic League leading 14th save.

Notes: Scary moment for Brian Burgamy, in the third he was hit squarely on the knee by an errant Halama pitch that sent him sprawling at the plate. It looked awful, but he quickly recovered and jogged to first.

At first I thought it was a mistake, but turns out John Halama hit for himself tonight in the #9 spot. He laid down a pretty solid sac bunt in the fifth to advance Ryan Harvey to third base.

The SharkTank Redemption

Ricky Brooks threw eight shutout innings to lead the Camden Riversharks over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 7-0, in the third game of a four-game set at Campbell’s Field Saturday night. 

Brooks (5-1) gave up just three hits and a couple of walks while striking out four in his eight innings of work; Spencer Steedley threw a scoreless ninth to preserve the shutout. 

The Riversharks (29-32) offense gave Brooks some runs in the first inning. Chris Walker and Brian Burgamy each walked and with two outs, Eduardo Perez drove them home with a double to right center. 

Deinys Suarez (3-3) settled down after that, keeping the Sharks scoreless over the next 5.2 innings. 


That was, until Walker unloaded his second home run of the series, doubling the lead to 4-0 and chasing Suarez from the game. Perez continued his hot hitting with a three-run blast of his own in the eighth. Perez finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and five RBIs. 

McGuire One Hits 'Crabs, Goes Seven Scoreless, Finally Catches A Break

Mike McGuire tossed seven scoreless innings, struck out six and allowed just one hit tonight as the Camden Riversharks shutout the Southern Maryland Bluecrabs 6-0 at Campbell's Field.

McGuire had a no hitter going through seven, until with one out, Matt Padgett hit a ground ball that just got through the infield.

The 'Sharks offense erupted with eleven hits tonight. Chris Walker and Eduardo Perez combined to go 7 for 8 at the dish, with Walker collecting a home run in the sixth that put the 'Sharks up 6-0.

Zach Hammes and Josh Walter each threw a scoreless inning in relief of McGuire.

This is the third time in 2012 McGuire has gone seven innings, but those others starts ended in a loss and a no decision.

Farnsy's Miscue Lets York Jump The 'Sharks

Brandon Haveman hit a three run, bases clearing double in the seventh inning off 'Sharks reliever Jeff Farnsworth, and the Revolution held on to win 4-2 tonight at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

In five innings of work, Camden starter Bryan Corey held the Revs to just one (unearned) run on five hits while striking out six. But all the Riversharks offense could muster in response was two runs in the first inning, when Brian Burgamy's RBI single scored Chris Walker and Lloyd Turner.

Haveman got one run back for York in the bottom of the frame when he scored after Chris Nowak hit into a fielder's choice.

Steve Doetsch lead off the second with a triple, but was left stranded after a groundout from Turner, and strikeouts from Burgamy and Scott Knazek.

The Revs bullpen came through in a big way in relief of starter Jesus Sanchez, who exited after just an inning and two thirds. Lefty Yunior Novoa recorded five strikeouts in his three innings of relief. R.J. Rodriguez notched his 7th save of 2012, retiring the 'Sharks in order in the ninth.

Jake Eigsti's hitting woes continued as he went 0 for 4 at the dish tonight. In his last ten games, Eigsti is 6 for 38, for a miserable .157 batting average.

Mike McGuire Can't Catch A Break

A three run Somerset fifth inning proved to be too much to overcome as the Camden Riversharks fell to the Somerset Patriots, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon. 

For the third time in two days the Sharks (17-19) jumped out to an early lead over the Pats (15-20). The scoring got started in the fourth when Steve Doetsch led off the inning with a triple to right center. Two outs later catcher Scott Knazek came up with a three-bagger of his own to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. 

Camden starter Mike McGuire (2-4) retired nine of the first ten he faced before Patriot first baseman Adam Donachie doubled to start the fifth inning. One out later Rex Rundgren singled home Donachie to tie the game at 1. The big blow came five batters later when Jeff Nettles ripped a two out, bases loaded double plating two more runs to the Pats a 3-1 lead. 

The Sharks would get one back in the bottom of the eighth when a one out Eduardo Perez double scored Brian Burgamy from first to cut the deficit to one. 

Camden would have a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth when Drew Macias led off with a pinch-hit single. A Chris Walker sacrifice would advance him to second and then third after a Lloyd Turner grounded out. With two away Marquez Smith hit a slow roller to third, but a great catch and tag from first baseman Adam Donachie saved Jeff Nettles from an error and preserved a 3-2 win for the Patriots. 

Why Is Chris Walker Still Leading Off??

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a good leadoff man is supposed to, y'know...get on base, right??

In 23 games with the 'Sharks this year, Walker is batting a miserable .186. Patience at the plate is also key for a leadoff hitter, but Walker LEADS THE TEAM IN STRIKEOUTS with 29 so far.

I like Chris. He's a nice guy. He's a good outfielder with great range, and if he ever got on base he's still a threat to steal. But C'MON ALREADY, SCOTTY.

Ricky Brooks, Errors, And A Tale Of Two Double Plays.

In the top of the first inning at TD Bank Park, 'Sharks starter Ricky Brooks had the bases full of Patriots with only one out.

If you've followed the Riversharks at all this year, you've heard this song before: starting pitcher gets into early trouble, gets tagged for a bunch of runs, and the 'Sharks try to play catch up for the rest of the game. Today's matinee in Somerset looked like more of the same. But...

Brooks got third baseman Jeff Nettles to ground to second. Patty Matera scooped up the ball and flipped it to shortstop Jake Eigsti. Eigsti fired a strike over to first baseman Brian Burgamy, and suddenly the 'Sharks were out of the inning, without giving up a run. No one was more excited about this than Brooks, who slapped his glove and let out an exultant yell on his way back to the dugout.

That one play seemed to set the tone for the entire game. The 'Sharks batted around in the second inning, scoring four runs in the process thanks to a combination of walks, errors by the Patriots infield, and a 2 run double for outfielder Drew Macias.

Brooks retired the next six batters he faced. In the top of the third, Paddy Matera hit what looked like a sure double play ball to Pats second baseman Freddie Bynum. But Bynum couldn't come up with it, and what at first looked like two outs turned into another 'Sharks run as Macias scored from third on the play.

Brooks never let Somerset get into scoring position. In his five innings of work, no Patriot made it to second base. The only extra-base hit the Pats could muster was surrendered by reliever Zach Hammes in the seventh.

The 'Sharks tacked on one more in the sixth when Lloyd Turner singled and scored Chris Walker to make it 6-0.

The Patriots spoiled the shutout in the bottom of the seventh when Rex Rundgren singled in Aaron Mathews. Rundren's groudout RBI in the ninth made it 6-2, but that was as close as the Pats would get. John Lujan struck out Jonny Tucker to end the game and give the 'Sharks the victory.

Ah Yes, The Old 3-5-2-5-4-5 Double Play. That Old Chestnut.

Colina is never, EVER getting this jersey back.

It didn't take long for Scott Knazek to make an impact with his new squad.

The 27 year old catcher was released from the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League on Wednesday. Tonight, inserted into the 'Sharks lineup and wearing Alvin Colina's #25 jersey, Knazek launched the first pitch he saw from 'Stormers righty Mark Brackman over the left field wall.

The Barnstormers got on the board first, when in the top of the first Fehlandt Lentini took a Keith Weiser fastball deep over the wall in left center. But the 'Sharks answered back in the bottom of the frame when Drew Macias homered to right to tie it at 1-1.

Macias blasted a line drive over the right field wall to tie the game.

Billy Rice took advantage of right fielder Ryan Harvey's fielding error in the bottom of the second, stretching a ball that should have been caught into a one out triple. Then Steven Doetsch hit into the weirdest double play I've ever seen, going 3-5-2-5-4-5 to get Rice breaking for home and Doetsch halfway between 2nd and 3rd.

Knazek's 2 run homer followed in the 3rd. Lancaster would tie the game at 3 in the fourth, when a Jaime Pedroza single scored Jesus Merchan and Kody Kirkland. But the Riversharks pulled ahead in the bottom of the frame when RBI singles from Knazek, Chris Walker and Lloyd Turner made it 6-3.

The bullpen combo of Kyle Reese, Jason Bergamann and John Lujan combined for 7 strikeouts in relief of Weiser, and shut the door on any hopes of a 'Stormers late inning rally. Weiser gets the win, his first of 2012. Lujan gets the save, his second.

Sharks win!!