Hey, At Least We Got Free Ice Cream: Revs, Cody Shutout 'Sharks 8-0

When York leadoff hitter Brandon Haveman took the second pitch he saw from 'Sharks starter Eddy Camacho deep over the right field wall, I knew it would be a long afternoon for our Camden Riversharks.

York sent eight men to the plate in the first inning, scoring three more times after Haveman's solo shot. Things never got better for Camacho or the 'Sharks, as they were blanked by a superior Revs team in an embarrassing 8-0 blowout. It was Camden's third straight loss, and drops them to 6 games behind the Liberty Division leading Southern Maryland Bluecrabs.

Camacho went six innings, giving up six runs on twelve hits. He struck out six.

Camden could only manage four hits all afternoon against Revs pitching, and only one of those, a Pedro Feliz leadoff double in the seventh, went for extra bases. York starter Chris Cody cruised through the 'Sharks lineup, at one point retiring sixteen batters in a row.

In relief of Camacho, and holding true to form, Spencer Steedley managed to give up two more runs on four hits in just an inning of work. In an ironic twist, the much beleaguered Josh Walter and Zach Hammes combined to work back to back 1-2-3 innings in what might've been Camden's only bright spot for this game.

Burgamy's Blast Beats Bluefish, Bad Bullpen Battles, Bemusedly...

Brian Burgamy's three run homer in the seventh gave the 'Sharks a 7-3 lead, and for once, the bullpen didn't blow it. Camden held on to win 8-4, avoiding a series sweep by the Bridgeport Bluefish and snapping a three game losing streak in the process.

Mike McGuire got the start for the 'Sharks this morning and pitched fairly well, surrendering three runs on four hits in seven innings of work. He walked two and struck out four.

Camden scored three times in the first inning off Bridgeport's Brad Thomspon, getting consective, two out doubles from Burgamy, Pedro Feliz and Raul Padron. An Eduardo Perez RBI single capped the offensive outburst before Jake Eigsti grounded out to end the inning.

But the Bluefish answered right back in the second. Joey Gathright's sacrifice fly scored James Simmons to get Bridgeport on the board, and Brad Boyer launched a two run homer to right that tied the game 3-3.

Danny Santiesteban broke the tie in the fourth with an RBI double that scored Eigsti, and the 'Sharks caught a break in the fifth inning, when a combination of heads up defense and bad base running caused Bridgeport to hit into a 7-4 double play.

McGuire's departure in the seventh brought on the much maligned Riversharks bullpen. But despite our numerous prayers for rain, and both of them surrendering a couple hits, both Josh Walter and Leo Rosales got through two innings of relief relatively unscathed, surrendering just one run. Jake Eigsti's sac fly in the eighth added a bit more insurance for Rosales, who shut the door on the Bluefish in the ninth and sealed the win.

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.

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 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. 

'Sharks Win Behind Solid Effort From Corey

Bryan Corey pitched effectively through 5 2/3 innings and earned his fourth win of 2012 as the Camden Riversharks beat the Long Island Ducks 6-2 tonight at Campbell's Field. Corey surrendered only one run on four hits while striking out two. 


Brian Burgamy blasted his seventh home run of the season deep to right to get the 'Sharks on the board in the bottom of the first. In the second, Jake Eigsti's RBI double scored Steve Doetsch and made it 2-0. 


Eigsti got another RBI in the fourth on a sacrifice fly that scored Drew Macias, and the 'Sharks lead it 3-0. Macias, the #7 hitter, had two stolen bases on the night.


Camden got another run in the fifth when Pedro Feliz grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Lloyd Turner. 


Camden nearly coughed up the lead in the sixth. After a James McOwen solo shot finally got the Ducks on the board, reliever Eddy Camacho threw seven straight balls and walked his way into a bases loaded 2 out jam. Camacho got Colin Roberson swinging for out number three. 


Long Island scored once more in the seventh when McOwen singled in Kraig Binick to make it 4-2 before Ron Karkovice had seen enough of Camacho. Josh Walter was brought in to get the last out of the inning. 


The 'Sharks tacked on some insurance in the eighth when Macias scored after an error by Ducks reliever Eric Niesen, and some smart baserunning by Steve Doetsch allowed him to score on a wild pitch from Jon Hunton.


John Lujan came on in the ninth and retired the Ducks in order. 

Ok, Now We Have Three Third Baseman. Now What?

The Camden Riversharks have announced that former World Series Champion and Philadelphia Phillie Pedro Feliz has returned to the ‘Sharks for the 2012 season. 

“We are very excited to have Feliz on the team again,” said General Manager Adam Lorber. “He is a talented ball player and an overall great guy. He is a great role model for young athletes and enjoys interacting with our fans.” 

Last season Feliz appeared in 72 games for the Riversharks, leading the team in batting average (.298) and on-base percentage (.366) before being signed by the San Diego Padres. He was also tied for second with the Riversharks in RBIs (45) and hit 11 home runs. In addition, he had 22 hits in his last 24 games including a team best 16-game hitting streak. 

After being signed in June, Feliz played in 25 games for the Tuscan Padres, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. He had 12 RBIs and hit three homeruns. In November of last year, he was granted free agency. 

Matera To The DL, Goodbye Joey D.

The Riversharks announced today that infielder Paddy Matera has been placed on the disabled list. In 15 games with the 'Sharks, Matera is batting .333 with 2 homers and 5 RBI.

The move slightly opens up a very crowded infield. Eduardo Perez, once the starting third baseman, has been used sparingly since Camden acquired Marquez Smith last month. Perez has been making a strong showing lately as the DH, in today's doubleheader vs. the Somerset Patriots he went 5 for 8 with 3 doubles and 2 RBI.

With the impending return of Raul Padron and Pedro Feliz, the log jam gets worse. It's possible that Brian Burgamy could be moved from first base to left field, he spent some time there last season and is a good all-around utility player. But that doesn't solve the problem of possibly having three third baseman, plus Lloyd Turner and Matera fighting it out for the second baseman's job. Matera's DL stint won't last long, but when it's up look for some major shakeups in the 'Sharks infield.

Also, Atlantic League rules dictate that the roster be trimmed to 25 players by June 1st. To meet that requirement the 'Sharks have placed reliever Joe D'Allessandro on the inactive list. It may be only a matter of time before he's released. That's kind of a shame, not only because he's a local guy, but because in his last three appearances, Joey D was unhittable. He had 7 strikeout in his last 4 innings pitched, including striking out the side in a May 24th appearance vs. the Patriots.