By GEOFF MOSHER
Courier-Post Staff
BRIDGEWATER

The Somerset Patriots got nothing for something Saturday night.

Despite near flawless execution in their 6-0 victory over the Camden Riversharks, the Patriots gained no ground on the Atlantic City Surf in the Atlantic League's South Division chase.

The Surf's 8-7 win over the Newark Bears helped them maintain their half-game lead with a week and a half remaining before the end of the season's first half.

Other than a 15-minute rain delay and patches of lightning, which drew oohs and aahs from the crowd of 5,337 at Commerce Bank Ballpark, surprises were kept to a minimum.

Somerset center fielder Michael Warner, the Atlantic League leader in several offensive categories, posted a double, triple, two RBIs and scored a run. Warner entered the game with the league lead in batting average, RBIs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Third baseman Emiliano Escandon, who trails only Warner in the race for the batting title, went 3-for-4. Starter Ray Davis, who should be a lock to make the All-Star team this month, shut out Camden on six hits and struck out six in six innings.

Even more impressive was lefty reliever Luis Arroyo, who allowed just one hit and struck out four in three innings for his second save.

The Patriots sent Camden starter Lincoln Mikkelson to his first loss. The right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out three in six-plus innings.

Davis (7-3) and Mikkelson (1-1) traded goose eggs until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Warner ripped a triple past Riversharks right fielder Jacob Brumfield to score Escandon from first base for a 1-0 lead.

Greg Blosser gave Somerset the chance to score another when he followed with a fly to right field. Brumfield, a former journeyman major-leaguer, rifled a throw to Camden catcher Guillermo Garcia at home plate as Warner tagged up at third and darted for home.

Not only did the 6-foot-3, 215-pound catcher block home plate as Warner came charging in, he fielded Brumfield's high throw at the same time. Warner bounced off Garcia's big body and away from home plate before Garcia tagged him out.

Somerset catcher Carlos Pagan one-upped his counterpart in the seventh inning when he blasted a towering two-run home run to left field, his eighth of the season, to give Somerset a 3-0 lead.

After Pagan's homer Billy Hall smacked a single through the right side. Camden right-hander Loriel Gonzales replaced Mikkelson and threw a wild pitch about 2 feet over Garcia's head as Hall trotted to second base.

Jeff Anderson followed with a hard grounder off Gonzales' glove and the ball ricocheted away from second baseman Andres Duncan, who couldn't recover in time to make a throw.

Duncan waved at the ball as Anderson reached first and Hall came around to score for a 4-0 advantage. Warner gave Somerset a 5-0 lead with an RBI double over Brumfield's head in right field. An RBI single by Dattola in the inning pushed Somerset's sixth run across.