Road Weary 'Sharks Win Matinee Battle

By: Jake Levy

The Camden Riversharks were coming off a road trip down in Texas, flying back to Camden Monday afternoon. Most of the players didn’t make it home before playing in their game Monday night.

There was no rest for the Sharks, who had a morning game Tuesday. Chock full of excuses, Camden could have packed it in.

Not these Riversharks.

Camden scored the last four runs of Tuesday’s game, giving them a 4-2 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers in the second game of a two-game series at Campbell’s Field.

Adam Godwin scored the first two runs of the game. He scored in the first on an RBI single from Ryan Harvey.

Harvey was playing in his first game since July 18 and came through in his first at bat to give Lancaster (9-9, 54-34) the early lead. Godwin scored again in the third on a Blake Gailen single.

That was all the scoring for Lancaster in the ball game. Kevin Reese settled down to go six innings, giving up the two runs on five hits.

Reese recovered from throwing 20 pitches in the first inning to help save the Camden (10-8, 44-43) bullpen with his quality start.

The Sharks offense started slow, but rattled off the final four runs of the game. Jake Eigsti singled home Pedro Feliz in the fourth and Doetsch singled home Feliz again in the sixth inning.

Leo Rosales came on in the seventh and continued his dominance out of the middle relief role, working around a leadoff walk.

Rosales (1-0) picked up his first win of the season for his inning of work because Feliz would come through with an RBI single of his own in the seventh, scoring Paddy Matera for what would eventually be the winning run.

Raul Padron picked up an RBI in the inning as well on a ground out that scored Eduardo Perez. The ball was a tailor-made double play ball that was booted by Brad Boyer. They still got the out at second, but couldn’t relay in time to double up Padron, which would have ended the inning.

John Lujan didn’t need the insurance, throwing a perfect ninth inning to end the game and snag his league-leading twentieth save of the season. The win splits the miniseries at one game apiece and ties the overall season series nine to nine.

The teams will play their final two regular season games against each other starting Wednesday when this series shifts over to Lancaster, PA. It will be John Halama for the Barnstormers facing off against Bryan Corey for the Riversharks.

Jarrett, Gomez Headed To The DL

The 'Sharks announced today they have placed pitchers Sean Jarrett and Mariano Gomez on the disabled list. The news is undoubtedly bad for an already beat up pitching staff, who now have to deal with a four man rotation and the loss of a key lefty in the bullpen. This is Jarrett's second stint on the DL, after being out for two weeks with a forearm injury just last month. Eddy Camacho or newly acquired James Houser might be forced into a starting spot, but odds are good we'll be seeing some new faces pitching for Camden in the very near future.

Q: Who The Hell Is That Guy Wearing Scott Knazek's #24 Jersey? A: It's James Houser

Houser’s career began as a high-round draft pick out of high school in Sarasota, FL, signing with the Tampa Bay Rays as their second-round selection in 2003. Named Florida’s “Mr. Baseball” after an All-American senior season at Sarasota High, the 6’5 southpaw went on to post a combined 3.67 ERA through his first six minor league seasons, winning a career-high and California League-best 12 games for Visalia in 2006 and climbing as high as fourth on the Rays’ top prospect chart according to Baseball America along the way.

Houser reached Triple-A Durham with the Rays in 2009 before signing with the Florida Marlins prior to the 2010 season. After excelling at Triple-A New Orleans where he held a 3.67 ERA, Houser made his major league debut for the Marlins on June 24, 2010 in a game at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hey Australia!! What's A Burgamy Fan Gotta Do To Get A Canberra Cavalry Jersey!!

Get Well Soon, #4

Drew Macias homers in his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2008.

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.

In Which The 'Sharks Blow Another Lead, And The Writer Loses His Shit

 Iggy Suarez' two out single in the bottom of the 10th scored Aaron Bates, and the Sugarland Skeeters capped a remarkable five run comeback with a 6-5 victory over the Riversharks tonight at Constellation Field.

Camden led 5-1 in the 8th, andOH I CAN'T WRITE THIS RECAP,OK?? LOOK, JOSH WALTER AND ZACH HAMMES STINK. THERE"S NO GETTING AROUND THE FACT THAT SINCE BERGMANN WAS PICKED UP OUR BULLPEN HAS GONE TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET. EDDY CAMACHO AND LEO ROSALES COMBINED FOR SEVEN GREAT INNINGS, THEN WALTER AND HAMMES CAME IN AND SHIT ALL OVER THEIR EFFORTS. JESUS CHRIST, THE NEW GUY DELWYN YOUNG GOES THREE FOR THREE, EDDY PEREZ GOES THREE FOR FIVE WITH TWO RBI, MATERA AND EIGSTI BOTH HOMER, AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH!!!!

LOOK AT THIS CLUSTERFUCK OF AN EIGHTH INNING:

Bottom of 8th	Sugar Land Skeeters
Pitching Substitution	38 Josh Walter subs for Leo Rosales.
#16 Octavio Martinez	Called Strike
Defensive Substitution	8 Danny Santiesteban subs for Steve Doetsch at Right Field.
#16 Octavio Martinez	16 Octavio Martinez advances to 1st (single)
#4 Dominic Ramos	Ball, 4 Dominic Ramos advances to 1st (hit by pitch), 16 Octavio Martinez advances to 2nd (4)
#11 Ofilio Castro	Foul, Called Strike, Foul, 11 Ofilio Castro advances to 1st (error by the second baseman), 4 Dominic Ramos advances to 2nd (11), 16 Octavio Martinez advances to 3rd (11)
#10 Bubba Bell	Called Strike, Swinging Strike, 10 Bubba Bell advances to 2nd (double), 11 Ofilio Castro advances to 3rd (10), 4 Dominic Ramos Scores Earned (10), 16 Octavio Martinez Scores Earned (10)
Pitching Substitution	28 Zach Hammes subs for Josh Walter.
#25 Jason Lane	Ball, Ball, Ball, 25 Jason Lane advances to 1st (walk)
#31 Josh Pressley	Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, 31 Josh Pressley advances to 1st (walk), 25 Jason Lane advances to 2nd (31), 10 Bubba Bell advances to 3rd (31), 11 Ofilio CastroScores Unearned (31)
Offensive Substitution	23 Matt Hagen runs for Josh Pressley at 1st base.
#34 Aaron Bates	Ball, Swinging Strike, Ball, Ball, 34 Aaron Bates advances to 1st (walk), 23 Matt Hagen advances to 2nd (34), 25 Jason Lane advances to 3rd (34), 10 Bubba Bell Scores Earned (34)
#19 Steve Moss	Ball, Called Strike, Called Strike, 19 Steve Moss putout (strike out swinging) for out number 1
#2 Iggy Suarez	Called Strike, 23 Matt Hagen putout (5) for out number 2, 2 Iggy Suarez putout (5-3 DP) for out number 3
Runs: 4, Hits: 2, Errors: 1, LOB: 2

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?? THE FIRST THING HAMMES DOES IS WALK A GUY ON FOUR PITCHES!! HE THEN PROCEEDS TO WALK THE BASES LOADED. IT'S A MIRACLE THE SKEETERS DIDN'T SCORE 40 RUNS!!

SO THE GAMES TIED AND HEADED TO EXTRAS. IN THE TOP OF THE 10TH, THE SHARKS LOAD THE BASES WITH ONE OUT BUT CAN'T GET A SINGLE RUN OUT OF IT!!

THE SKEETERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, GET A TWO OUT TRIPLE FROM AARON BATES!! FUCKING SPENCER STEEDLEY!! I'M GOING TO MAKE A SIGN FOR THE BULLPEN THAT SAYS 'ABANDON ALL LEADS, YE WHO ENTER HERE' GAAAcjfa;lfa lvrilr98 lfdkhviv nI ALkhfl nhfiQH aslSHFAlFH lFHD aslFalf hfhlofHOIRHOIHoiHoidJW

[Ed. Note - Apparently, Jim knocked himself out banging his head on the keyboard. 'Til next time, True Believers.]

Reversal Of Fortune In Game Two

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Skeeters could not find a way to come back a second night in a row after falling behind early to the Riversharks in a 8-5 loss in game two at Constellation Field in front of 6987 Friday night.

Michael Nix (3-8) got the nod for the eighth time as a starter for the Skeeters but was unable to establish himself early when the Riversharks scored first for the second straight night. The righty was lifted after four innings of work giving up five runs, two earned, on four scattered hits with two walks and two strikeouts. 

With one out in the inning and two runners on after a single by Eduardo Perez and walk to Brian Burgamy, third baseman Pedro Feliz smacked a single down the line to bring both runners around giving the visitors an early 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless second and third inning, the Riversharks struck again in the fourth. The first batter Nix faced walked and the second reached on an error by Iggy Suarez at the shortstop position. In the third at-bat of the inning, Jake Eigsti reached on the second error of the inning when Nix could not decide on whether to throw to third or first. Right fielder Steven Doetsch grounded into a fielder’s choice to Ofilio Castro at third for the first out of the inning; Castro threw home to get the force at the plate to keep the bases loaded with one out for Paddy Matera. In his second at-bat of the game, the Riversharks second baseman launched a fastball into left for the bases-clearing double to put his team further ahead, 5-0.

Riversharks starter Bryan Corey fared no better the second time against the Skeeters than he did in his first outing at Constellation Field a month ago. Even though the righty retired the first 10 batters he faced and allowed just one walk through four innings things unraveled halfway through the game. The first hit Corey allowed came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Manny Mejia took a fastball into left-center field for his 5th double of the season. One batter later, Steve Moss broke up the shutout with an RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to four, 5-1. Moss stole second to get in scoring position for Iggy Suarez, and on a favorable pitch took Corey down the left-field line for a double. Moss scored to cut the lead to three, 5-2.

With Corey struggling and the no-hitter no longer intact, with a runner on second and still two outs in the inning, Dominic Ramos launched his seventh home run of the season over the left-field wall into the picnic plaza to cut the lead down to one, 5-4. Camden brought in reliever Blake King (2-2) to end the inning finishing Corey’s night.

Ryan McKeller made an appearance out of the pen for the Skeeters and worked a scoreless fifth, but in the sixth inning, Camden scored three more. Matera started the inning with a double with one out and was quickly pushed to third on Chris Walker’s single through the right side of the infield. Garrett Parcell entered the game to finish the inning, but the first batter he faced, Eduardo Perez, knocked a single through the left side scoring both runners to increase the lead, 7-5. Two batters later, Feliz tallied his third RBI of the game with a single to cap the scoring at 8-5.

John Lujan came in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth for the Riversharks. The league’s second best closer picked up his 18th save of the season when the Skeeters left two stranded.

Camden Riversharks in the ABL

The Riversharks have the unique distinction of having four players who started 2012 playing in the Australian Baseball League. Pitcher Mike McGuire and first baseman Brian Burgamy spent time with the Canberra Cavalry, pitcher Kevin Reese with the Melbourne Aces, and pitcher Sean Jarrett with the Brisbane Bandits. Here's a great video in which all four describe their experiences playing down under:

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.

'Sharks Sign Delwyn Young For Some Reason, Release Knazek

The Camden Riversharks announced today they have signed utility player Delwyn Young. Young, 30, last played for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in the AAA International League in 2011, where he batted .244 with 11 homers and 51 RBI. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To make room on the roster for Young the 'Sharks have released catcher Scott Knazek.

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.

Walter/Hammes 5, 'Sharks 4

They lost. Ahead 4-1 and they lost. A gem from Keith Weiser and the bullpen blows it. I don't have the energy or the will to write a game recap. Suffice to say, they lost.

Despite Zach Hammes Best Efforts, 'Sharks Hold On To Beat 'Stormers 12-5

By: Jake Levy

On Sunday the Camden Riversharks left twelve men on base, unable to pick up timely hits, and it cost them the ball game.

They had to deal with Mark Brackman on Monday, who had beaten them twice in his last three starts.
But, like a majority of this second half thus far, Monday was a complete 180 of all expectations.

The Sharks, who compiled fourteen hits, left just three runners on base. Every Shark in the starting lineup had at least one hit, and Brackman (6-3) couldn’t get out of the fourth inning.

The Riversharks (6-4, 40-39) sent eleven men to the plate in the second inning, scoring seven runs on the strength of home runs from Brian Burgamy and Jake Eigsti, en route to a 12-5 victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers (6-4, 51-29) in the first of a three-game set at Campbell’s Field.

Chris Walker drove in four on the day, including his seventh home run of the season to help Camden’s cause. The bottom of the order came up big too, with the 7-8-9 hitters combining to score seven runs and drive in four.

Brian Burgamy hit a two-run home run, Eigsti a three-run shot, two of seven hits in the inning for Camden. The inning was helped along by two errors by Lancaster; only three of the seven runs were earned.

That was plenty of run support for Sean Jarrett, who made his second start since coming off the disabled list. Jarrett (5-5) went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits, both solo home runs.

Walker drove in his first run on an RBI single in the fourth, scoring Paddy Matera to chase Brackman from the game. Matera scored three runs in the game.

The next inning, Walker smashed a three-run shot over the left field wall to break the game wide open, 12-2. It was the first time all season Lancaster has trailed by double digits.

The Barnstormers put up three in the ninth, refusing to go down easily, but Zach Hammes was able to close it out.

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.

A Pitch-By-Pitch Breakdown Of Bryan Corey's Nightmare First Inning?? Sure, Why Not...

Top of 1st York Revolution #6 Brandon Haveman Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Foul, 6 Brandon Haveman advances to 1st (single to left field) #22 Scott Grimes Ball, Ball, Ball, Called Strike, 22 Scott Grimes advances to 1st (walk), 6 Brandon Haveman advances to 2nd (22) #19 Ramon Castro Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, 19 Ramon Castro advances to 1st (single to left field), 22 Scott Grimes advances to 2nd (19), 6 Brandon Haveman advances to 3rd (19) #39 Andres Perez 39 Andres Perez advances to 2nd (double to left field), 19 Ramon Castro advances to 3rd (39), 6 Brandon Haveman Scores Earned (39), 22 Scott Grimes Scores Earned (39) #2 Jeff Fiorentino Ball, Ball, 2 Jeff Fiorentino advances to 1st (error by the first baseman), 19 Ramon Castro Scores Earned (2), 39 Andres Perez Scores Earned (2) #38 Chris Nowak Called Strike, Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Ball, 38 Chris Nowak advances to 1st (walk), 2 Jeff Fiorentino advances to 2nd (38) #12 James Shanks Foul, 12 James Shanks advances to 1st (single to center field), 38 Chris Nowak advances to 2nd (12), 2 Jeff Fiorentino Scores Unearned (12) Pitching Substitution 33 Blake King subs for Bryan Corey. #16 Travis Scott Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, Ball, 16 Travis Scott putout (strike out swinging) for out number 1, 38 Chris Nowak putout (caught stealing: CS 25 DP) for out number 2 #14 Danny Gonzalez Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Ball, 14 Danny Gonzalez putout (P6) for out number 3 Runs: 5, Hits: 4, Errors: 1, LOB: 1

'Sharks Walkup Music Redux, Pt. III: Steve Doetsch

Doetschland über alles!! Steve Doetsch strikes me as a rockin' cat, always a threat to hit, even way down in the eight hole. So I think he needs something that says "Attention, opposing pitcher. Here comes the pain."

My pick for Doetsch is "Sleep Now In The Fire" by Rage Against The Machine:

Splendor in the Grass

By: Jake Levy

Alvin Colina had his seventeen game on-base streak snapped with an 0-for-4 game Friday night. He made up for that in a huge way on Saturday.

Colina had his first three-hit game of the season, including a two-run double in the sixth that proved to be the winning hit for the Riversharks, who score four runs in the inning to secure a 5-2 win over the York Revolution Saturday night at Campbell’s Field.
Camden (39-38) drew first blood in the second when Pedro Feliz scored on a double play ball off the bat of Jake Eigsti.

Meanwhile, Kevin Reese picked up a win in his second consecutive start with a brilliant outing. Reese (3-3) went seven plus innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out two.

The lone run came in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Danny Gonzalez, scoring Chris Nowak and tying the game at one.

York (39-40) starter Omar Javier was pulled after five innings, hoping the bullpen could continue what he started.
Camden had other ideas.

Brian Burgamy started off the inning with a deep fly ball that was caught at the wall in left. The next four Sharks all reached base. Pedro Feliz singled and Raul Padron walked for Colina, wholaunched the two-run double to the wall in left-center. Eigsti followed with an RBI double of his own before Steve Doetsch struck out. Lloyd Turner, who had one hit in his last 25 at bats, hit the third Sharks double in the inning and capped off the four-spot.

Burgamy went 0-for-4, snapping a six-game hitting streak, in four at bats that included two line drive outs, the shot to the wall and a strikeout where the pitch before was hit homerun distance but just foul past the left field pole.

Reese came out for the seventh inning, looking to shut down the Revs after the big inning. He allowed a leadoff double to Jeff Fiorentino and walked Nowak without recording an out, forcing the Sharks to go to the ‘pen. Leo Rosales was asked to get Camden out of the jam, and that’s just what he did. He forced James Shanks into a double play and struck out Saloman Manriquez to end the inning.

The Revs did add a run in the eighth, with all the damage coming with two outs. Scott Grimes worked a walk and was followed by Ramon Castro, who hit a gapper to left-center. Chris Walker went to cut the ball off and, in a scene right out of “Space Jam” the ball circled around Walker to the wall as if Bugs Bunny were underground with a magnet, scoring Grimes.

Zach Hammes was called on in the ninth, trying to erase the memory of Friday’s bases loaded double he allowed to Andres Perez that proved to be the winning hit in the ninth. He loaded the bases with two down again Saturday, but this time got Brandon Haveman to ground out and end the game, picking up his second save of the season.

The Sharks look to take the series in the rubber match Sunday. They send Bryan Corey (6-6) to the mound against the Revs’ Chris Waters (2-2)

Danny Santiesteban's Nameplate Is Awesome, Humongous...

Revs Three Run Ninth Seals 'Sharks Fate

By: Jake Levy

The 12th Rivershark home run in seven games wasn’t enough on Friday. The Sharks battled back in the late innings but a three-spot in the top of the ninth launched the York Revolution over the Camden Riversharks, 6-3, in the first home game of the second half at Campbell’s Field.

Mike McGuire walked nine-hole hitter Danny Gonzalez to lead off the top of the third, leading to the Revolution (3-5, 39-39) getting on the board first when Scott Grimes doubled into the left field corner to score Gonzalez.

The Riversharks (4-3, 38-38) responded in the home half. After Corey Thurmon retired the first two batters of the inning, Eduardo Perez pounded a double. Brian Burgamy followed up with a one-hopper over the left field wall to plate Perez.

The Revs scored two more in the sixth with Andres Perez and Jeff Fiorentino each scoring.

Corey Thurman was settled in, but the Riversharks scrapped their way back. They did it with small ball in the seventh. Steve Doetsch reached on an infield single with one out. He stole second, his eighth steal of the season, to get into scoring position for Chris Walker, who bounced one back through the middle to plate Doetsch. Perez followed with a single of his own into left but Brandon Haveman came up firing and cut down Walker at the plate as he tried to score from second.

With the Riversharks still down a run, Burgamy went the other way with the first pitch of the eighth inning off of reliever Adam Thomas over the left field wall to tie the game at 3-3.

Thomas (5-2) retired the next three batters and got the win when York took the lead in the ninth. A leadoff single by Liu Rodriguez was followed up by two straight highlight-reel-worthy ground outs. Pedro Feliz made a glove-side dive into the hole to rob Danny Gonzalez before Jake EIgsti made a backhand play on a ball in the same hole and went to third to cut down Rodriguez.

Zach Hammes walked the next two batters to load the bases despite having each of them in two-strike counts.

With the bases loaded, Hammes (1-2) got Andres Perez into another two-strike count. Perez battled with Hammes, fouling off tough pitches and taking borderline balls to get the count back full. With the runners going, Perez lunged at an outside pitch and served it into right-center, just passed the outstretched glove of a diving Steve Doetsch to clear the bases and put the Revs up 6-3.

Ricardo Gomez walked Jake Eigsti to lead off the ninth but retired the next three batters in order to pick up his fourth save of the season and give the Revs game one. Camden looks to rebound on Saturday. It will be Kevin Reese (2-3) throwing for Camden against York’s Omar Javier (1-6).

Hey, Adam? Can We Get Keith Weiser A Proper Riversharks Card, Please??

Keith's 2012 Riversharks card has John Lujan's stats on the back of it. FIX IT!!!

Anyway, The Good Lord Would Never Disrupt The Best Game Of Steve Doetsch's Life

Steve Doetsch's two home run, five RBI night was cut short by thunderstorms, but not before the 'Sharks took a 7-5 lead on the Lancaster Barnstormers into the 8th inning. After the briefest of brief rain delays, the game was declared official.

The 'Sharks have now won two series in a row and are off to a great second half start, taking two of three from the Patriots last week and the 'Stormers this week.

Keith Weiser got the start for Camden tonight but battled control issues. He lasted only three innings, giving up four runs on six hits and walking three.

Luckily, Camden's offense was in a battling mood as well. The two teams traded the lead back and forth all night, but the difference maker was Doetsch's three run blast off JD Durbin that made it 7-5. Spencer Steedley cruised through two innings of scoreless relief before the game was eventually called.

Notes: Lloyd Turner returned to the lineup tonight but didn't have a very productive night at the plate, finishing 0 for 4.

Just as last night's game ended with a tremendous on-the-run catch by 'Stormers outfielder Blake Gailen, tonight's first out for the 'Sharks came when right fielder Eduardo Perez made a spectacular leaping catch in the alley to rob Bridger Hunt.

Tonight's game featured an 8-3 DP by the 'Stormers and a 3-2-3 DP by the 'Sharks.

Here Comes Jarrett Singing Oldies, Goldies

Sean Jarrett's first start of the second half was a short one.

The 'Sharks righty returned from the DL tonight against the Lancaster Barnstormers and lasted just three innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out one. But his wasn't the most troubling line of the night.

For the first time in a long time, Camden's bullpen basically imploded in a 5-2 loss at Clipper Magazine Stadium. After Jarrett's departure, Blake King and Spencer Steedley just couldn't find the strike zone, combining to walk SEVEN 'Stormers in two and two thirds innings of relief.

Amazingly, Lancaster only scored twice as a result, but those five runs proved too much for the 'Sharks to overcome. Camden's only offense came in the form of the long ball, with solo homers from Patty Matera in the sixth, and Brian Burgamy in the eighth.

A note on BB's homer:

Burgamy absolutely CRUSHED a 3-2 fastball from 'Stormers reliever Beau Vaughn over the right field wall. It cleared the fence, it cleared the picnic area tents, it may well have hit the warehouse across the street from Clipper Magazine Stadium. I have NEVER seen a bigger home run, and neither had the 'Stormers fans sitting directly behind me. It was a thing of absolute beauty.

The game ended when Steve Doetsch smoked a ball to left field, only to be robbed of extra bases by Lancaster outfielder Blake Gailen, who made a remarkable catch on the run for the third out.

Could Be Worse, 'Sharks Fans, This GCL Red Sox Outfielder Is 0 For 32, With 31 K's

Shaq Green-Thompson   55 | OF Status: Active GCL Red Sox Rookie Gulf Coast League MLB Parent Club: Boston

Stats AVG: .000 HR: 0 RBI: 1 SB: 1

Bookmark Player Full Name: Shaq Green-Thompson Born: 04/21/1994 Birthplace: Sacramento, CA Height: 6' 2" Weight: 225 Bats: R Throws: R

2012 Season
Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
RSX	GCL	.000	11	32	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	31	1	1	.179	.000	.179
Minors		.000	11	32	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	7	31	1	1	.179	.000	.179

Eigsti = Hustler

By: Jake Levy

Jake Eigsti had three RBIs in his last twenty games entering Tuesday. The Riversharks had the fewest home runs in the league and the Lancaster Barnstormers, who were riding a seven-game winning streak, pitchers had allowed the least.

But the enigma that was Tuesday's midday contest between the Riversharks and Barnstormers saw Eigsti drive in three runs and the Riversharks hit four solo home runs in a 7-2 victory over Lancaster in the first of a three game series. The win is the third in a row for Camden and ties them with Bridgeport atop the Liberty Division for the second half.


Eigsti started the scoring in the second, driving in two with a bases loaded single to give Camden (3-1, 37-36) the early lead. Chris Walker followed up with a single of his own to make it 3-0.

Jaime Pedroza got Lancaster (3-1, 48-26) on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame.

The Sharks responded with two of their home runs in the top of the third. Brian Burgamy and Pedro Feliz went back-to-back. For Burgamy, it was his first game of the second half. The homer was his lone hit of the day (1-for-4) and his first long ball since June 23. Feliz hit his second home run in four games and fourth on his young season. He now has seven RBIs in his last five games.

In the bottom of the third, Blake Gailen drove home Brad Boyer for Lancaster's second run, but that was all the damage they could do against Bryan Corey. In six innings of work, Corey (6-6) allowed the two runs on five hits without walking a batter and striking out five.

Corey needed to be good, facing off against the Freedom Division All-Star Game starting pitcher John Halama, who entered the game with the lowest ERA in the Atlantic League. Halama (5-6) put up zeros the next four innings, going seven frames while allowing the five runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

Halama gave the Barnstormers a chance to fight back, but they couldn't solve Corey and the bullpen the rest of the way.

Raul Padron hit a solo shot in the eighth and Eigsti added his home run in the ninth to put Lancaster away, meanwhile Eddy Camacho, Josh Walter and Mariano Gomez each delivered a scoreless inning to close out the top hitting team in the Atlantic League.

Sensei K.Reese Shows No Mercy

Kevin Reese threw five and two thirds innings of shutout baseball, and the 'Sharks offense got clutch hits from Paddy Matera and Eduardo Perez in tonight's 5-0 victory over the Somerset Patriots. 

Reese, who has not allowed a run in his last two starts, steps into a more prominent role in the pitching rotation thanks to the recent departure of righty Ricky Brooks, who was picked up by the Colorado Rockies yesterday.

The Riversharks started the scoring early when a Pedro Feliz double in the first scored Perez to make it 1-0. Perez launched a two run homer in the third to extend the lead to 3-0, and Matera's two RBI single in the ninth was the nail in Somerset's coffin.

The bullpen combo of Leo Rosales, Spencer Steedley and Zach Hammes allowed no runs and only one hit in three and a third innings of relief.

Cause The Rocky Mountain Way Is Better Than The Way We Had...

The Riversharks lost their best starter this afternoon when the Colorado Rockies signed All Star righty Ricky Brooks to a minor league deal. Brooks will most likely report to the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox where he'll join another former 'Sharks hurler, Jason Bergmann.

In 10 games this season, Brooks was 6-1 with a 2.44 ERA. His departure leaves a giant hole in Camden's starting rotation, which as of now consists of Mike McGuire, Keith Weiser, Bryan Corey, and a returning from the DL Sean Jarrett. Kevin Reese might be the answer, but his last 5 starts have all lasted 4 innings or less. He's gone 6 innings just 3 times in 15 total starts this year. 

Hammes, Bullpen Come Up Big In Close Win

By: Jake Levy

The Camden Riversharks lost their All-Star starter Ricky Brooks to the Colorado Rockies early Saturday afternoon, an arm that the Sharks will surely miss in a starting rotation that had seemed to lean on his 6-1 record.

If the bullpen pitches the way it has in the first two games of the second half, it doesn't matter who starts the game.

The bullpen has provided 7.2 innings of scoreless ball, including four on Saturday, to help the Sharks secure a 2-1 victory over the Somerset Patriots.

Mike McGuire got the start for Camden, and pitched himself into danger early and often. In the first he put runners at the corners with one out for Jesse Hoorelbeke, who has been a terror for Riversharks (1-1, 35-36) pitching this season. But McGuire induced a 5-4-3 double play to get out of trouble.

In the second McGuire gave up three straight singles to lead off the inning, loading the bases for Yusuf Carter, who has four home runs in his last five games. But another double play limited the damage. Jake Fox scored on the play, but McGuire was able to get through the inning with just one run coming across. The Patriots bounced into four double plays in the game.

The lone run looked to be enough for Somerset (1-1, 36-36) starter Sean Green. The former major leaguer went six shutout innings, scattering five hits while striking out nine batters. He left it up to T.J. Hose in the seventh and, thanks to a pair of Jeff Nettles errors, he gave up the lead.

With one out in the inning Jake Eigsti grounded one through Nettles legs into left. After Chris Walker was set down on strikes, Paddy Matera hit a ground ball sharply down the third base line. Nettles made a diving stop and tried to pop to his feet to make the throw, but he stumbled mid throw and wound up throwing the ball wide of first, getting past Jake Fox into right. It was ruled a single but with the arid throw both runners advanced, marking the second error against Nettles in the inning.

With two down and two runners in scoring position, Eduardo Perez delivered a single back up the middle, plating both runners in what would eventually be the winning hit.

The scoring surrounded Mariano Gomez's 1.1 innings of work, giving him the win. Gomez (2-1) gave up a pair of hits and struck out one to get his first win of the second half and first since June 1.

Josh Walter came on to finish the seventh, stranding an inherited runner at second base. Zach Hammes followed up with two perfect innings, including a strike out, to pick up his first save of the season. The win evens the series and pulls Camden back within a half game of Somerset in the overall standings.

Q: Who The Hell Is That Guy Wearing Marquez Smith's Jersey? A: It's Danny Santiesteban

Danny Santiesteban was the Twins 39th round draft choice in 2004 out of Palm Beach Community College. He was a draft-and-follow who signed in May of 2005.

Santiesteban last played with the Newark Bears in the Can-Am League. In 16 games with the Bears this year, he batted just .233 with 14 hits and 22 K's.

KKKKKKKKKKK

The Camden Riversharks took four of their last five into the All-Star Break and were looking to pick up where they left off in the start of the second half Friday night.

They had a lot going their way. They came in 6-4 against the Patriots and Camden's starter, Keith Weiser, was coming off his best start of the season; a six inning shut out of the best hitting team in the league: the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The Somerset Patriots had other ideas. In what proved to be an overall wacky game, the Patriots hit four home runs en route to a 6-4 victory Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ. The four homers allowed equals the highest total Camden (0-1, 34-36) has allowed in a game all season.

Keith Weiser (4-5) danced around three hits in the first two innings but ran into trouble in the third. After retiring the first two men in the inning, Weiser gave up a double off the left field wall to Jeff Nettles. The next batter, Jesse Hoorelbeke, drilled a two-run home run over that same fence, putting Somerset (1-0, 36-35) up 2-0. In ten games against Camden, Hoorelbeke has hit five home runs.

The next inning, Yusuf Carter hit his fourth home run in five games on the first pitch of the fourth inning. He was followed up by another solo shot off the bat of Jonny Tucker, putting the Pats up 4-0.

They posted their third straight two-run inning in the fifth with a two-run bomb from Aaron Mathews, chasing Weiser from the ballgame. Weiser went 4.1 inning, giving up six runs on eight hits.

Meanwhile his counterpart, Doug Arguello, was sensational. He allowed just one hit through his first five innings, allowing three base runners.

The sixth looked to be more of the same, retiring the first two batters in the inning. Then the inning took a wacky turn, with five straight batters all reaching in different ways. Paddy Matera drew a walk , Eduardo Perez was hit on the toe by a pitch, putting two on for Pedro Feliz, who knocked one over the left field wall to cut the lead in half, 6-3.

Then Raul Padron struck out, which should have ended the inning, but the ball skipped past Carter to the screen, allowing Padron to reach. Alvin Colina followed up with a grounder to the first baseman, Jake Fox, but the ball rolled right through his legs (Buckner style) to put runners at the corners. A wild pitch during Steve Doetsch's at bat scored Padron from third and made the score 6-4.

After the craziness settled, Arguello (5-3) went six innings allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out seven. Both hits came off the bat of Feliz.

Each bull pen used four arms to close out the game; the Sharks staff went 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just a pair of singles to keep Camden in the game.

The Pats 'pen was equally effective, allowing one hit through three innings. The one hit came off closer Josh Rupe, who gave up a leadoff single to Alvin Colina in the ninth, but he tried to stretch it into a double and was cut down. Rupe finished off the inning uneventfully to pick up his 15 save of the season. The Sharks look to rebound in game two on Saturday night.

More From The 2012 Atlantic League All Star Game