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.