Patriots Fall to Riversharks Again, 7-5

By Melinda Quasius on August 13, 2008

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Same place, same time, same teams, different night, same results.

The Camden Riversharks used an early lead and consistent relief pitching to defeat the Somerset Patriots 7-5 for the second straight game Tuesday night.

Left fielder and leadoff hitter Sheldon Fulse set the pace for the game with a single to left field. Fulse went 3-4 against the Patriots including two doubles, two runs batted in and a stolen base.

Patriots pitcher Josh Brey (6-2) then walked shortstop Damian Jackson. A ground out to the first baseman by centerfielder Nic Jackson advanced the runners for L.J. Biernbaum, who singled in the two runs.

Catcher Alberto Castillo popped up to the third baseman, bringing up first baseman Tyler Von Schell.

Von Schell, hitting .346 with runners in scoring position this season, then singled to deep right field, bringing in Biernbaum from second. Von Schell went 1-5 during the game, with one RBI.

The Riversharks early three-run advantage would not last, though. The Patriots’ centerfielder Sean Smith leadoff the bottom of the first with a homerun to left field near the light pole. It was the third home run Riversharks pitcher Kevin Walker (0-0) has given up this season, and Smith’s twelfth hit to leave the park this season.

The re-energized crowd at Commerce Bank Park then roared for third baseman Brandon Larson’s single to dead center. Then, designated hitter Josh Pressley fulfilled his role, hitting a single out to right field. Both Pressley and Larson advanced on passed ball by Castillo.

Vito Chiaravalloti struck out, bringing catcher Jason Belcher to the plate. Belcher is fourth on the Patriots in batting with runners in scoring position. He increased his average by hitting a single towards the shortstop, bringing in Larson.Shortstop Teuris Oliviares ended the inning with a ground out to his counterpart, Damian Jackson.

Despite a rocky first inning, Brey kept the Riversharks scoreless through the second and third innings. In the fourth inning, though, Brey gave up three more runs, extending Camden’s lead to 6-2.

Fulse visited home plate for the second time and drove in two runs with a double into left field. Both third baseman Gabe Suarez and designated hitter Cody Collet scored on Fulse’s hit after the pair each singled to get on base.

The evening was over for Brey after 91 pitches, six hits, six earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts.

Somerset staged a comeback in the fifth inning, beginning with left fielder Gera Alvarez’s single to center field, off of the pitchers’ mound and passed second baseman Tim Johnson. Pitcher Mike Flannery then walked Larson, and gave up a single to Pressley to load the bases. Chiaravalloti could not capitalize, striking out and making him 0-3 with runners in scoring position for the game.

The next batter, Belcher, hit a broken-bat dribbler back to the pitcher, giving Alvarez enough time to score. Oliviares followed by doubling in Larson and Pressley on an exciting play where a throw was made at home in attempt to catch Pressley then fired back at second to nab Olivares, both unsuccessful. Pressley went 3-4 during the game, scoring a run off of two singles and a double.

With the shortstop at second and two outs, right fielder Elliott Ayala stuck out to end the rally and the scoring for the Patriots. Camden’s relief pitchers Federico Baez (1-1), Felix Rodriguez and Alec Zumwalt combined for one hit, no walks, no runs and five strikeouts in the final four innings. Zumwalt earned his league-leading 20th save by shutting down the top of the Patriots’ order in the bottom of the ninth, and Baez got his first win of the season.

The Riversharks added an insurance home run by Damian Jackson in the ninth inning, off Jason Richardson, giving them the 7-5 final score. Tuesday’s game lasted three hours and 17 minutes, and 5,095 fans were in attendance.

The loss drops the Patriots to 1.5 games behind the York Revolution for first place in the Freedom Division. Somerset and Camden will face off again on Wednesday, with the Patriots hoping a rare day game means a change in luck. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m., with Jose Lima (2-3) on the mound for the Riversharks and Kip Bouknight pitching for the Patriots.

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