FIVE-RUN FIFTH PROPELS SURF TO VICTORY OVER NASHUA
June 30 Recap

Nashua, N.H. – SS Anthony Granato (pictured) slugged a double, a triple and had two RBI, as the Atlantic City Surf put together an 11-6 Can-Am League victory over the Nashua Pride at Holman Stadium on Monday evening, snapping the team’s three-game losing streak. It was Atlantic City’s fourth win in five tries over Nashua this season.

The Surf drew first blood with a run in the second on CF Lucas Taylor’s RBI single. The Pride then responded with a tally in their half of the frame, on RF Jeremy Pickrel’s leadoff home run.

Atlantic City made it a 2-1 game in the third via RF Josh Burrus’ sacrifice fly, and added another in the fourth on Granato’s RBI triple. Nashua then the game in the bottom of the fourth on 1B Bryan Duplissie’s solo blast and 3B Jack Joffrion’s RBI single.

The floodgates opened in the fifth, when the Surf scored five runs, all after the first two batters of the inning had been retired, to take the lead for good. An RBI single by 2B Brad Thoma was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Granato and a two-run single by LF Billy Kovatch, bringing home Thoma and Taylor. Granato then came home when C Argenis Tavares made a throwing error on Kovatch’s steal of second base.

Nashua scored two runs in the eighth on LF Dennis Abreu’s two-run single, making it an 8-5 game, but Atlantic City added three insurance runs in the ninth. 3B Gil Zayas’ double to right drove in Burrus and DH Clyde Williams; Zayas then ran to third on Pickrel’s throw home. After Burrus was called safe, Tavares threw to third, trying to nail Zayas, but the ball flew into left field, enabling Zayas to scamper home.

The Pride (17-19) scored a run in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Surf (18-19) notched the victory and moved back to one game below .500, four games back of idle first-place Quebec with ten games remaining in the half.

Atlantic City starter Rory Shortell (1-1) picked up his first victory of the season, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work, striking out four. Jim Wladyka and Derek Duclos combined to give up three runs on three hits in four innings of relief. Lance Stevens (4-3) was saddled with the loss for Nashua, allowing seven runs in four and two-thirds innings.

For the Surf, Granato and Thoma led the way with three hits apiece, while Zayas and Taylor both went 2-for-4. Pickrel spearheaded the Pride attack with a 2-for-3 evening.

The two teams meet in the second game of the three-game set Tuesday night, with Atlantic City’s J.C. Huguet (4-1) facing Nashua’s Nicholas Suero (2-3).