Matera's Offense Propels Sharks Past Crabs

Paddy Matera hit his second home run in as many nights to help the Camden Riversharks beat the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 8-4, at Regency Furniture Stadium Saturday night.

For the second straight night the Sharks (9-13) jumped out to a first inning lead. Camden loaded the bases and a one-out error by catcher Richard Mercado allowed two runs to score.

Jake Eigsti doubled to right in the third to score Brian Burgamy and add another run. Then the Sharks blew things open in the fourth with a five-spot, including a three-run home run from Matera. Matera had no home runs in his eight games played before this series; he has two in two games against Southern Maryland.

Kevin Reese (1-0) made his first start of the season for Camden and held The Blue Crabs (11-11) scoreless through the first three innings. That changed with two outs in the fourth, when Richard Giannotti hit a three-run blast of his own.

Javier Colina added a solo shot in the sixth to chase Reese from the game. Reese went 5.1 innings, allowing the four runs on five hits. He had been the long reliever for the Riversharks early in the season and made a spot start in place of the injured Humberto Sanchez.

Reese gave way to Mariano Gomez, who got two strike outs while allowing a hit in his brief appearance. Since giving up four earned runs without recording an out against Lancaster on May 9, Gomez has made four appearances and allowed no runs on two hits in 5.1 innings of work.

The Riversharks bullpen flexed their muscle against their Liberty Division rival Saturday. They went a combined 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out eight to preserve the win.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Sharks and ends Southern Maryland’s win streak at four games. Camden will look to take the series Sunday and move within a game of crawling out of the cellar of the Liberty Division.