COX GOOD, SIMARD BETTER AS ATLANTIC CITY WIN STREAK SNAPPED
May 29 Recap

Atlantic City, N.J. – Quebec starter Michel Simard outdueled Atlantic City hurler Adam Cox as the Capitales edged the Surf, 1-0, in a Can-Am League game at Bernie Robbins Stadium on Thursday night. The defeat ended Atlantic City’s five-game winning streak.

Simard (1-0) was brilliant, limiting the Surf to just one hit in seven innings of work, striking out seven and walking none for his first victory of the season. Mark James and Jason Schutt each pitched an inning of scoreless relief to hold Atlantic City at bay. Cox (1-1) was nearly as effective for the Surf, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits and fanning four. He also gave up the game’s only run, a second-inning homer by 3B Patrick Deschenes.

Despite generating little offense, the Surf threatened to score in both of the innings in which they had hits. In the third, RF Billy Kovatch rapped a leadoff single and stole second; after moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by C Michael Santoro, Kovatch attempted to score on CF Lucas Taylor’s grounder to Deschenes, but was gunned down at the plate.

In the ninth inning, SS Anthony Granato’s single and subsequent steal of second put him in scoring position with only one out. However, Granato was then picked off second by Schutt, extinguishing the rally.

LF Alex Nunez went 2-for-3 for Quebec (5-3), while 2B Josh Colafemina also had a hit for the Capitales. Deschenes’ solo shot was the only extra-base hit of the game.

With the loss, the Surf (5-3) move into a three-way tie for second place in the Can-Am League with Quebec and New Jersey, half a game behind Worcester.

The two teams go at it again tomorrow night at 7:05. Ben Thurmond (1-0) will be on the hill for Atlantic City, while Erick Nadon (0-1) is the Capitales’ scheduled moundsman.