Pats Win Again Over ‘Sharks

By Mike Casella on May 29, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset Patriots defeated the Camden Riversharks today 6-4 on a perfect day for baseball in central New Jersey. It was their second win in as many days setting the stage for a chance for the series sweep on Thursday.

The Patriots won the opener Tuesday night 6-5 with former New York Yankee Bret Prinz earning his At-lantic League leading eleventh save. Today, Prinz again came on in the ninth to earn his twelfth save and tighten his hold on the league save lead. Patriot center fielder Elliot Ayala had a big game going 2-4 with the game winning hit and a run scored.

“I’m starting to feel it coming,” said Ayala after the win. “My legs feel great and I’m starting to swing the bat much better. It’s just a matter of getting the at-bats for me. I got off to a fast start last year, but it’s been a little slower so far this year. I don’t think it’s the weather though. As I get more at-bats, I feel like my hitting will pick up. I’m just trying to play good defensive baseball this year. We’ve got a nice little winning streak going and it feels good. When we get Prinzy (reliever Bret Prinz) in the game, I know it’s ‘lights out.’ Like today.”

The Patriots scored first in the bottom of the first when Ayala reached on a fielding error by Camden shortstop Gary Cates. The next batter, Gera Alvarez, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt which hugged the first base line moving Ayala to second. Left fielder Mike Ryan singled advancing Ayala to third. With one out, Patriot third baseman Brandon Larson flied out to center field scoring Ayala. Josh Pressely singled next, scoring Ryan, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

The game remained at 2-0 in favor of Somerset through five innings which saw good defensive baseball from both teams and solid pitching from Camden starter Chris Young and Patriot pitcher Josh Brey. A total of four double plays prevented either team from getting anything going in the middle frames.

Things started to unravel for Somerset, however briefly, when Rivershark shortstop Gary Cates led off the top of the sixth inning with an infield single. Then right fielder L.J. Birnbaum drew a walk off Brey. Left fielder Josh Rabe followed that up with a single. With the bases loaded, third baseman Richard Lewis hit a broken bat single, scoring Cates and Birnbaum. Catcher, Randy McGarvey singled for the fourth hit of the inning and Rabe came home. Finally, Lewis crossed home plate after Patriot catcher Travis Anderson threw wide of first base in an attempt to pick off McGarvey. After five innings of calm, the wheels came had come off for the Patriots as their lead quickly became a 4-2 deficit.

The Pats came right back in their half of the sixth when Mike Ryan hit a long solo home run over the center field wall drawing them to within one.

Still, Camden starter Chris Young entered the seventh inning holding a 4-3 lead. The first Patriot hitter, DH Vito Chiaravalloti, walked. Matt Hagen then sacrificed him to second. With one out, Young threw a wild pitch moving Chiaravalloti to third. Travis Anderson was issued another walk and the next batter, second baseman, David Housel sacrificed the runner in from third to tie the game. With two out and one on, Ayaya hit a double in the left center gap scoring Anderson and the Patriots had a 5-4 win which they would not relinquish. Ayala, an Atlantic League All-Star last year, finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Larson hit one out off of Camden reliever Mike Flannery.

Then it was Prinz’s turn to do what’s becoming a familiar and sore sight for Atlantic League foes; shutting the door on any comeback bids.

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