12-2

Camden
#	Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
3	Reese, K	4.0	8	5	5	1	1	5.24
33	King, B	1.2	3	4	4	2	2	4.30
18	Steedley, S	0.0	1	2	2	2	0	6.00
24	Houser, J	1.1	3	1	1	0	1	4.32
28	Hammes, Z	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	3.81
		8	17	12	12	5	6

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.

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.

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.

Absolutely Sweet Macias

It was the complete opposite of last night's game.

The Camden Riversharks scored eight runs on fourteen hits, and despite a Long Island rally, held on to beat the Ducks 8-5 tonight at Campbell's Field.

Perhaps frustrated with the lack of runs in last night's 1-0 pitcher's duel, the baseball gods smiled early and often on both teams. The Ducks scored first when Brandon Sing's RBI single scored Craig Binick in the top of the first to make it 1-0.

But the Riversharks had Long Island starter Bob Zimmermann's number. They answered back in the bottom of the frame with three runs of their own. Marquez Smith knocked in Chris Walker with an RBI single, and Jake Eigsti plated Lloyd Turner when he grounded into a double play. Smith later scored from third when Zimmermann uncorked a wild pitch.

Camden got another run in the second when Walker singled in Steve Doetsch to make it 4-1.

In the third, Drew Macias blasted a two run shot OVER the Cooper Health sign in right. Suddenly it was 6-1.

Then...the wheels almost came off.

Long Island scored four runs in the fourth. Brandon Sing blasted a solo homer to lead off. Rey Navarette doubled. Shawn Williams almost put on over Lloyd Turner's head for a base hit, but Turner layed out and made a spectacular catch to retire him. Reid Gorecki smoked a two run dinger to left center, and the Ducks were within a run at 6-5.

Exit Bryan Corey, enter the bullpen combo of Blake King, Zach Hammes, Jeff Farnsworth and John Lujan. They combined to shut down the Ducks offense for the rest of the night. In four and two thirds innings, they allowed just one hit and one walk, while striking out three.

The 'Sharks added some insurance in the seventh when Eduardo Perez's RBI single scored Macias, and Doetsch singled in Perez despite getting tagged out between first and second to end the inning.

Justin Cassel Deserves A Round Of Applause

For the second time in four days the Somerset Patriots blank the Camden Riversharks, 4-0, Friday night at TD Bank Ballpark. The Riversharks had not been shutout in 2012 before this series.

Jonny Tucker scored his first of two runs in the first inning on a Jeff Nettles RBI groundout to give the Patriots (14-13) the early lead.

Kevin Reese (1-1) settled down and put up zeros until the fifth, when Tucker delivered a two-RBI double to provide some insurance. He would come around to score later in the inning when Riversharks (12-15) first baseman Brian Burgamy made an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

Justin Cassel (1-3) didn’t need the insurance. He went seven scoreless innings for Somerset, scattering four hits while striking out a season-high nine Riversharks.

Marquez Smith, who continues to impress since joining Camden earlier in the week, reached base in all four trips to the plate. He had two of the Riversharks six hits on the night and Cassel’s only two walks.

The Camden bullpen continued to impress, with Blake King throwing two innings without allowing a run, but the Patriot bullpen countered with two scoreless innings of their own to secure the win and draw the series even at two games apiece.

Everybody (On The Barnstormers) Hits

For a while, things looked good for the Camden Riversharks tonight.

 Trailing the 'Stormers 3-0 going into the bottom of the 4th, Chris Walker led off the inning with a triple. Lloyd Turner singled in Walker, and Brian Burgamy and Eduardo Perez both walked. Drew Macias drove in Turner and Burgamy with a single to left, and suddenly the game was tied.

 Starter Keith Weiser retired Lancaster in order in the top of the fifth, and the 'Sharks took a 5-3 lead when Brian Burgamy smoked a ball to the outfield fence, scoring Turner and Felix Pie.

 Enter Blake King.

King subbed for Weiser in the top of the sixth, hereafter to be know as "the inning the wheels fell off". Lancaster scored four runs, on only one hit. The 'Sharks committed three errors, and the combination of King and Zach Hammes walked four batters.

The 'Stormers led 7-5, and never trailed again. Tacking on 8 MORE RUNS in the 7th and 8th innings, the final score was Lancaster 15, Camden 5.

Barnstormers shortstop Jesus Marchan had a career night, going 5 for 6 with an RBI.

'Sharks DH Colin Roberson FINALLY got a hit, doubling his average to a gaudy .077.