Sharks Beat Bears, 10-6

By Atlantic League Independent Wire Services on July 5, 2009

Camden, NJ – The Camden Riversharks defeated the Newark Bears this Independence Day by a final score of 10-6, in game three of their four game series. Riversharks’ starter Ryan DiPietro (1-2) pitched 5 strong innings, scattering 6 hits, allowing 2 runs, while striking out 4, for his first win of the season. The loss was charged to Newark’s Kyle Kobernus (1-1), who allowed 7 hits, 8 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings of work. With the outcome, the Riversharks climb to 30-35, while Newark drops to 33-33.

With two outs already recorded in the 3rd inning, Riversharks’ starter Ryan DiPietro ran into some trouble. After surrendering a single to right fielder Jacque Jones, and a walk to designated hitter Carl Everett. First baseman Brandon Buckman stepped to the plate and hit a frozen rope up the middle, scoring Jones for the early 1-0 lead.

The Riversharks answered right back in the bottom of the third inning, as they batted around, and took a commanding lead. It all began when third baseman Brian Burgamy slapped a pitch up the middle, and advanced to 2nd base on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Jason Jacobs. The next batter was Wayne Lydon, who blooped a single into shallow right field, scoring Burgamy to even the ballgame. But the Riversharks’ bats did not stop there, a costly error by Buckman provided a kick-start to the Riversharks’ offense. With Lydon and Chris Walker onboard, second baseman Junior Spivey knocked a ball just past Bears’ shortstop Felix Martinez, which scored Lydon for the go-ahead run. One batter later, left fielder Jon Knott drove a ball off the left field wall to score both Walker and Spivey, making the score 4-1. Stepping to the plate next was first baseman Brett Bonvechio, who unloaded a 2-0 offering over the right field fence, capping the runs in the inning at 6, and a 6-1 lead for the home town club.

The Bears began to claw away at the Riversharks’ lead in the top of the 4th inning, when center fielder Tike Redman took DiPietro’s pitch to deep right field, cutting Camden’s lead to 6-2. But Camden quickly regained that run. After another error by Buckman, Bonvechio added his third RBI of the contest, when he ripped a ball into left field, scoring Spivey from 3rd, to make the score 7-2.

Camden continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the 6th inning, when Lydon drew a one-out walk. He then stole second, for his 27th swipe of the season. Walker then stepped to the plate, and tagged a ball into right field, plating Lydon for an 8-2 lead.

The Bears continued to slash away at the Riversharks’ lead. Former Rivershark catcher Albert Castillo led off the inning with a double to the left field wall. Castillo then moved to second after a walk was surrendered to Redman. Left fielder Charlton Jimerson laid down a sacrifice bunt, which Jacobs threw over the head of Bonvechio, allowing Castillo the free pass to home. This paved the way for Everett to crush a pitch off the wall in right field, scoring both Redman and Jimerson, to cut the lead to 8-5.

But once again, the Riversharks would not let the Bears’ get too close. Newark’s Reliever yielded four consecutive walks to begin the bottom of the 8th inning, allowing Lydon to walk all the way around the bases and score to up the ante to 9-5. Camden would tack on an additional run, after Knott hit a fly ball to center field, sending Walker home to make the score 10-5.

In the 9th, the ball was turned over to lefty Chris Shaver, who shut down the Bears’ revolutionary hopes of a comeback, and sealed the victory for the sharks.

The Riversharks and Bears will conclude their four game set tomorrow, for a Sunday matinee game at 1:05pm. Lefty pitcher Josh Brey (1-3, 3.51 ERA) will take the mound for the Sharks in the final game of the series, and will be opposed by Newark’s RHP Jose Garcia(3-1, 5.04 ERA). Limited seating is still available for the game. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.riversharks.com.

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