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

Delwyn Young's Batting Average Dips Way Down To .833, Sharks Win 4-3

Returning to the line up for the first time since a bout of food poisoning sent him to the hospital for nearly a week, Delwyn Young promptly sent the third pitch he saw from Patriots starter Sean Green into orbit. It was the first of two dingers for Young, who finished the night going two for three with two RBI.

The Riversharks scored a run in each of the first four innings of tonight's game versus the Somerset Patriots. All but one, Lloyd Turner's RBI single in the second that scored Eddy Perez, came off solo homers. Young led off the second with another blast that made it 3-0, and Perez led off the fourth with his seventh homer of the year to put Camden up 4-0.

It would be just enough.

Keith Weiser got the start for the 'Sharks tonight and pitched pretty well, only allowing one run on four hits while striking out six. But things looked grim in the seventh, when with one out, and Spencer "No Lead Is Safe" Steedley on the mound, Joe Holden doubled to center, and Dan Hennigan followed up with a single. First and third with one out and the hero of last night's walk off win, Dan DeGeorge, coming up.

Luckily, Steedley got DeGeorge to ground to second. Unluckily, the 'Sharks couldn't complete the double play, getting only the force at second, and letting Holden score from third. But the defensive play of the game came next, when with Yunesky Sanchez batting, Raul Padron prevented any further damage when he caught Hennigan trying to steal for out number three.

Somerset got one more in the eighth when Corey Smith homered off Leo Rosales. John Lujan came on to pitch the ninth, and made a heads up defensive play of his own, throwing out Yusef Carter at second when Holden tried to bunt him over. The Patriots had two men on with two outs, but Lujan got DeGeorge to ground out to end the game and pick up his 22nd save of the year.

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.

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.]

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.

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.

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.

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.

El Scorcho By Weiser

Keith Weiser threw six innings of shutout baseball and the Camden Riversharks provided just enough offense to defeat the Lancaster Barnstormers 2-1 tonight at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Weiser allowed five hits while striking out three in his longest outing this season.

The 'Sharks got to Lancaster starter John Halama early. In the first, Chris Walker led off with a single, stole second, and took third on a throwing error by catcher Emerson Frostad. A Lloyd Turner sac fly scored Walker, and two batters later Raul Padron's RBI single scored Brian Burgamy to make it 2-0.

Which it would remain for nearly the entire game. Weiser got some help from the 'Sharks defense, the 'Stormers grounded into two inning ending double plays in the first and third.

Spencer Steedley worked a scoreless inning in relief of Weiser, and the got the 'Stormers to ground into ANOTHER inninng ending double play in the seventh.

Lancaster's lone run came in the eighth off reliever Zach Hammes. Jaime Pedroza's ground out scored pinch hitter Terry Tifee from third to cut the lead to 2-1. But that was as close as the 'Stormers would get. John Lujan came on in the ninth and retired the side in order to earn his Atlantic League leading 14th save.

Notes: Scary moment for Brian Burgamy, in the third he was hit squarely on the knee by an errant Halama pitch that sent him sprawling at the plate. It looked awful, but he quickly recovered and jogged to first.

At first I thought it was a mistake, but turns out John Halama hit for himself tonight in the #9 spot. He laid down a pretty solid sac bunt in the fifth to advance Ryan Harvey to third base.

The SharkTank Redemption

Ricky Brooks threw eight shutout innings to lead the Camden Riversharks over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 7-0, in the third game of a four-game set at Campbell’s Field Saturday night. 

Brooks (5-1) gave up just three hits and a couple of walks while striking out four in his eight innings of work; Spencer Steedley threw a scoreless ninth to preserve the shutout. 

The Riversharks (29-32) offense gave Brooks some runs in the first inning. Chris Walker and Brian Burgamy each walked and with two outs, Eduardo Perez drove them home with a double to right center. 

Deinys Suarez (3-3) settled down after that, keeping the Sharks scoreless over the next 5.2 innings. 


That was, until Walker unloaded his second home run of the series, doubling the lead to 4-0 and chasing Suarez from the game. Perez continued his hot hitting with a three-run blast of his own in the eighth. Perez finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and five RBIs. 

'Sharks Squash Skeeters In A Slugfest

With the bases loaded in the 8th inning, Marquez Smith took a 3-2 fastball from Skeeters reliever Kelvin Villa and crushed it over the left field wall for a grand slam. It was the coup de grâce for Sugarland, as they fell to the Camden Riversharks tonight by a score of 12-5.

The Skeeters struck first when Dominic Ramos led off the game with a triple, and scored when Bubba Bell singled him in to make it 1-0. An error by Alvin Colina later in the inning allowed Bell to score. 

But that was the only time Sugarland would enjoy a lead. The 'Sharks bats came alive tonight against Skeeters pitching. In the bottom of the first, Colina's sac fly to center scored Paddy Matera, and an Eduardo Perez double scored Smith and Brian Burgamy to make it 3-2 'Sharks. 

In the second, Ramos took Keith Weiser deep to left for his fourth home run of the season, tying the game a 3-3. Ramos came within one single of hitting for the cycle, going 3 for 5 on the night with 2 RBI.

Camden got three more in the bottom of the frame, a double from Smith scored Patty Matera, and Burgamy's two run blast, his 5th of 2012, made it 6-3 'Sharks. 

The Skeeters cut the lead to 6-5 in the 4th on RBI doubles from Ramos and Iggy Suarez.

A solo shot from Burgamy in the 5th added some insurance, and the huge, 5 run eighth inning sealed Sugarland's fate. Weiser gets the win, but the bullpen combo of Jeff Farnsworth, Spencer Steedley, Zach Hammes and John Lujan deserves credit for shutting down the Skeeters the rest of the night, allowing no runs and just two hits in four innings of relief.

Matera Back From The DL. Roberson & Mehlich Released, Steedley Signed

The Camden Riversharks have made a few roster moves today. To make room for Paddy Matera's return from the disabled list the 'Sharks released OF Colin Roberson. In 24 games with Camden this season, Roberson was batting just .162 with 2 homers and 10 RBI.

The 'Sharks have also signed 27 year old lefty Spencer Steedley. Steedley last played for the AA New Britain Rock Cats in the Eastern League. In 2011, Steedley went 4 and 5 with a 4.52 ERA. To make room for Steedley, Camden has released reliever Mike Mehlich.