Big Runs in Fifth Too Much for Patriots

By Melinda Quasius on August 12, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – The Somerset Patriots persisted in an attempt to come back against the Camden Riversharks, but defensive mistakes prevented the Patriots from turning the corner in its 7-5 series-opening loss Monday night.

Riversharks pitcher Ryan Dittfurth (1-3) kept the Patriots hitless through four innings and scoreless for five, earning his first win since being brought to Camden earlier this season.
Dittfurth faced 24 batters and allowed four runs on four hits, one walk and three hit batsmen in five and two-thirds innings.

Patriots pitcher Steve Kelly (5-9) was scoreless also through four innings, but was shelled in the fifth, allowing five runs on five hits.

First baseman Tyler Von Schill started the fifth with a single bounced past third baseman Brandon Larson. Rob Gandolfo followed with a well-placed bunt down the third base line, and was able to beat the throw.

With runners on first and second, Gabe Suarez attempted to advance the runners but struck out on a third foul bunt.

Cody Collet then worked Kelly deep into a pitch count, fouling off several balls before knocking a hit out to centerfield to load the bases.

Kelly walked a run in by putting Sheldon Fulse on base at the top of the order. Damian Jackson popped out to first base, then Nic Jackson hit a double out to the warning track at centerfield that scored all three runners. After L.J. Biernbaum reached base, Alberto Castillo hit a single that drove in Nic Jackson, but the inning ended when Biernbaum was caught in a rundown between second and third.

Kelly left after the fifth, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks. He faced 23 batters and struck-out six.

The Patriots did not answer in the bottom of the fifth, but after relief pitcher Chris Buglovsky kept the Riversharks scoreless in the top of the sixth, Somerset found its offense.

Sean Smith led off the inning with a stikeout, then Elliot Ayala hit a ball to the shortstop but reached base when Damian Jackson was unable to make a play.

With a runner on first, Larson hit his 24th home run out to the flag pole in centerfield. The Patriots had new life at 5-2.
Josh Pressley grounded out, then Jason Belcher reached base on Dittfurth’s third hit-by-pitch. Teuris Olivares singled to centerfield, and Camden went to their bullpen.

Relief pitcher Julio Guerrero inherited the two runners, and recent-acquisition Kevin Koch pushed home both runners by knocking a ball past a diving Gandolfo up the middle.

Vito Chiaravalloti ended the inning by popping up to left field, but Somerset had climbed back within one run, 5-4.

The Riversharks extended their lead by two more runs in the seventh off of Guerrero, scoring unearned runs on a double-error by Ayala and a passed ball by Belcher.

The Patriots countered with a Larson double down the left field line that scored Smith, making the score 7-5 at the end of the seventh inning.

The relief pitchers for both teams then took over. Rick Asadoorian and Jason Richardson combined for two inning of scoreless relief for the Patriots, and Alec Zumwalt closed out the game for the Riversharks, earning the save.

The Patriots were led by Olivares, who went 3-4 with a double, two singles, a run and was caught stealing, and Larson, who was 2-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI.

The Riversharks were led by Von Schill, who went 2-4 with two singles and a run, Fulse, who was 1-4 with a single, a walk and two runs, and Collet, who was 1-2 with a single, two walks and two runs scored.

The loss dropped the Patriots a half-game behind the York Revolution for first place in the Freedom Division for the second half.

The second game of the series is 7:05 Tuesday night at Commerce Bank Park. Starting pitchers are expected to be Josh Brey for the Patriots and Tony Peguero for the Riversharks.

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