RECORD CROWD SEES JACKALS OUTLAST SURF IN SLUGFEST
July 3 Recap

Atlantic City, N.J. – The Atlantic City Surf and New Jersey Jackals combined for 30 runs on 37 hits as the visiting Jackals won, 16-14, in a Can-Am League game on Thursday evening at Bernie Robbins Stadium. 8,016 fans were in attendance, breaking the league mark of 6,577, set by the Surf on July 3, 2007. The marathon affair lasted four hours, 16 minutes, and saw 11 pitchers used, 11 extra-base hits and 21 men left on base.

The party started with New Jersey’s seven-run first, in which 3B Vic Davilla and SS Casey Gordon both had two-run doubles, chasing Atlantic City starter Aaron Easton from the game after just two-thirds of an inning.

The Surf came back with two in their half of the first on LF Joe Burke’s RBI single and CF Lucas Taylor’s score on a wild pitch, and four more in the second on two-run home runs from Burke and 2B Brad Thoma (above). Atlantic City then took an 8-7 lead in the third on an RBI double from DH Clyde Williams and an RBI single from 3B Gil Zayas.

After the Jackals tied the game at eight in the fourth inning on RF Marcos Rodriguez’s RBI single, the Surf regained the lead with two in their half of the frame on a bases-loaded walk to Williams, and Zayas bringing home LF Billy Kovatch on a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

New Jersey went ahead 12-10 in the fifth on 1B Juan Tejeda’s grand slam, and tallied another two in the seventh inning on Tejeda’s RBI single and Davilla’s RBI double. Atlantic City halved the lead, 14-12, in the bottom of the seventh on Thoma’s two-run blast down the left-field line, and tied the game at 14 in the eighth.
The Jackals pulled ahead for a final time in the top of the ninth, with LF Craig Maddox’s two-run single the decisive blow. The Surf made noise in their half of the inning, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but closer Rusty Tucker shut the door for his tenth save of the season.

Burke, Williams, Kovatch and Thoma each had three hits for the Surf (20-20), who ended a three-game winning streak. For New Jersey (22-18), Gordon, Davilla and CF Zach Smithlin also had three hits apiece. Seven of the Jackals’ nine starters had multiple-hit evenings.

Kyle George (1-1) allowed the two ninth-inning runs and was saddled with the loss for Atlantic City. Justin Barnes (2-0) picked up the victory for New Jersey with a scoreless two-thirds of the eighth inning, being the pitcher of record when the Jackals went ahead in the ninth.

New Jersey remains three games back of first-place Quebec with the victory, while the Surf fell to five behind the Capitales.

The two teams renew acquaintances Friday evening, with Atlantic City’s Brian Rodaway (4-2) taking on New Jersey’s Ted Serro (0-0).