Lima Leads Riversharks Over York

By Corey Righter on August 25, 2008

YORK, PA – A three run first inning by the visiting Camden Riversharks became too much as the York Revolution fell in the series finale, 5-3. Aaron Rakers has been on a tear as of late winning five consecutive starts coming into Sunday afternoon.

At the sound of “Play Ball,” Camden was hitting as leadoff right fielder Sheldon Fulse hit a blooper along the third base line in shallow left field for a standup double. Two batters later Camden centerfielder L.J. Biernbaum smashed a three run moon shot into the picnic area in right field.

With the Riversharks quickly in the lead, Rakers settled down, retiring the next three batters he faced to get out of a dismal first inning. The homerun by Biernbaum was his ninth of the season.

The Revolution were caught off guard early on against former major leaguer Jose Lima. The former twenty-one game winner held York to just one hit through the first three innings along with three strikeouts.

In Lima’s previous start against the Revolution he gave up four runs in six innings of work with eight strikeouts, which resulted in a loss. “They know I have a good change up last time and I used my fast ball a lot tonight,” said Lima.

Lima would not give up his first run of the game, until the fifth inning on an opposite field two run blast by York third baseman Matt Dryer into the right field lawn seating. Lima refocused and buckled down to retire the next three batters.

On the other side Camden continued to hit all over the field and eventually end Rakers night in six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking none. Chris Hoiles would bring in right hander Saul Solveson in the seventh.

“I thought Aaron had good command, he just had a tough first inning,” said Hoiles. Rakers replacement was a bit shaky but managed not to allow any runs in a scoreless seventh inning.

In the bottom half on the eighth inning Lima finally find himself in a risky situation allowing two base runners and his night ended there. He pitched a masterful 7 2/3 innings allowing just seven hits, two runs along with six strikeouts, and just one walk. “I knew I had to settle down after that homerun and it is something I am used to,” commented Lima.

As he walked to the Riversharks dugout the Revs’ fans acknowledged the strong performance and gave him a standing ovation.

Reliever Felix Rodriguez would come into finish the eighth inning by getting designated hitter Matt Esquivel to hit a towering fly ball to deep center field for the final out of the inning.

The Revolution came into the game fresh off a game winning single the night before off the bat of left fielder Matt Padgett. Tonight was different, the score wasn’t tied 1-1; instead York faced a three run deficit in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday evening.

Padgett lead off with a ferocious drive off the right field wall, what looked to be a homerun, became an easy double. Dryer followed and worked Camden closer Alec Zumwalt , and earned a free pass.

With two men on catcher Sandy Aracena came to the plate in hit a screamer straight up the middle scoring Padgett and registering yet another double. The fans were on their feet with high hopes after witnessing the league leader in saves allow to first three hitters to move along.

The hopes would be crushed as if Zumwalt hit the reset button on a video game and struck out the following three batters in order.

Lima picked up his fourth win of the season and Zumwalt gained his league leading twenty-fourth save on the season. Camden improves to 17-25 on the season as York falls to 24-19.

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