EIGHTH-INNING RALLY PROPELS SURF TO VICTORY OVER NEW JERSEY
July 5 Recap

Atlantic City, N.J. – The Atlantic City Surf snapped a two-game losing streak with a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the New Jersey Jackals on Saturday evening in a Can-Am League game at Bernie Robbins Stadium.

New Jersey jumped on Atlantic City starter J.C. Huguet with two runs in the first inning on a two-out, two-run double by DH Vic Davila, and added another pair in the second on CF Zach Smithlin’s RBI single and LF Luke Allen’s sacrifice fly.

Atlantic City’s offense got in gear in the third inning, when DH Eddie Kim led off with a double and moved to third on RF Josh Burrus’ bunt single. Burrus then attempted to steal second, and C Craig Maddox’s throw sailed into center field, allowing Kim to score and Burrus to advance to third. After Jackals’ starter Juan Done retired the next two batters, Surf CF Billy Kovatch doubled home Burrus, making it a 4-2 game.

The score stayed the same until the sixth, when Atlantic City loaded the bases for Burrus with two outs. Burrus hit a grounder to shortstop, only to have it bobbled by New Jersey’s Casey Gordon, enabling LF Joe Burke to score and slimming the Jackals’ lead to one.

The Surf took the lead for good in the eighth, with Burrus singling down the right-field line with one out, plating Burke and 1B Clyde Williams and making it a 5-4 Atlantic City lead. 2B Brad Thoma (pictured) added an insurance run with an RBI single, bringing home C William Plaza.

Thoma’s single turned out to be valuable, as New Jersey tallied three hits in the ninth, but could only muster one run. Walker Whitley preserved the win, earning his third save of the season.

Kovatch, Burke, Plaza, Burrus and Thoma all had two hits for the Surf (21-21), while RF Marcos Rodriguez went 3-for-4 for New Jersey (23-19).

Huguet received a no-decision, giving up four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work, striking out eight. Kyle George (2-1) earned the victory with a perfect eighth inning. On the Jackals’ side, Done allowed two earned runs on eight hits, fanning four. Brandon Martin (1-3) was tagged with the loss, giving up the three eighth-inning runs.

The final game of the four-game set takes place on Sunday evening. Atlantic City starts Adam Cox, who has struck out 33 hitters in his previous three starts and currently leads the league with 60 whiffs. The Jackals send Isaac Pavlik (3-2) to the hill.