Having won four games in a row, the Riversharks were relying on their hottest pitcher to keep the streak going against what is arguably the Atlantic League's best team.

But Lincoln Mikkelson, who had blazed through a torrid August on the mound, was not quite up to the challenge. And the Riversharks saw their win streak end with an 11-2 setback to the Somerset Patriots before 5,761 spectators at Campbell's Field.

Mikkelson (3-5) lasted only 3— innings and gave up nine hits and seven earned runs. He also walked three and struck out only two.

That was far different from some of his more recent starts, including the last two, in which he gave up three earned runs in 16˜ innings.

In his last start, Mikkelson gave up one earned run and struck out 14 in a no-decision against Newark, a team that won the first half in the Northern Division.

``He was outstanding in the month of August,'' manager Wayne Krenchicki said of Mikkelson. ``But, for whatever reason, he didn't have it today. I couldn't really pinpoint what went wrong, but I think his location may have been off.''

Mikkelson was not available for comment after the game, but there was some speculation that he may not have adjusted well to a new catcher.

Jorge Morales took over the catching duties on short notice for the Riversharks after regular catcher Guillermo Garcia, who went 3-for-5 with two home runs, including a grand slam Friday, was signed Saturday by the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

Mikkelson could not get his game together after giving up two runs in the first inning. And those were a big two runs.

"Against a team like Somerset, you can't afford to get behind like we did,'' Krenchicki said. ``If you do, they're very tough to come back against.''

In fairness to Mikkelson, he may have been able to escape some of the damage in the first inning had his fielders responded better to what appeared to be a routine fly ball.

The Patriots got their first run on an RBI double by Michael Warner. The ball seemed to hang a long time before falling. Later in the inning, Mikkelson gave up a solid RBI double to Kevin Dattola.

Somerset set about putting the game out of reach in the second inning, when Darond Stovall tagged Mikkelson for a three-run homer.

It was the first of Stovall's two home runs, and he finished with five RBIs.

The offensive surge was not unusual for the Patriots, who have played to a 74-42 record overall and have clinched both halves in the South Division. In the second half, the Patriots are 35-18 and 13“ games ahead of Camden.

``They're the best team in the league,'' Krenchicki said. ``They are very strong offensively and defensively.''

The Patriots opened an 8-0 lead by the top of the fifth inning, while the Sharks were without a hit through the first four innings.