DESCHENES LEADS QUEBEC ATTACK AS SURF WINNING STREAK ENDS
July 17 Recap

Quebec City – Quebec 3B Patrick Deschenes went 3-for-4 and was a double short of the cycle as the Atlantic City Surf fell to the host Capitales, 7-3, in a Can-Am League contest at Stade de Quebec on Thursday evening.

Atlantic City (3-1) got its offense going early when SS Anthony Granato and 3B Joe Burke led off the game with back-to-back singles. After DH Clyde Williams struck out, Burke was retired at second when C William Plaza reached on a fielder`s choice; 2B Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas` ensuing throw to first went wide, enabling Granato to scamper home.

Quebec (2-1) then responded with a run on their half of the first, on a solo blast by Deschenes, and added three in the second, one on C Greg Stevens` RBI single, and another pair on Rochon-Salvas` two-run blast to left off of Surf starter Rory Shortell.

Atlantic City made it a 4-2 game in the third on Williams` RBI groundout, and added another tally in the fourth when 2B Brad Thoma grounded into a double play, scoring 1B Eddie Kim.

Quebec pitching shut down the Surf the rest of the way, though, as Atlantic City could only muster two hits through the final five innings. The Capitales scored a run in the fifth on LF Alex Nunez`s RBI single, and tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning on 1B Patrick Scalabrini`s RBI double and Nunez`s sacrifice fly.

Orlando Trias (4-4) picked up the victory for Quebec, giving up two earned runs on four hits in six innings of work, striking out three. Mark James and Jason Schutt combined to strike out six of the ten Atlantic City batters they faced over the final three innings.

Shortell (2-2) was saddled with the loss for the Surf, allowing seven runs on nine hits in six and one-third innings, striking out five. Derek Duclos pitched the final one and two-thirds innings for Atlantic City, giving up one hit.

Deschenes led Quebec by going 3-for-3 with three runs scored on the evening. Scalabrini and Stevens both chipped in with 2-for-4 efforts for the Capitales. No player had more than one hit for the Surf; 3B Gil Zayas` (pictured) sixth-inning double was the team`s only extra-base hit of the night.

A pair of league ERA leaders take the hill in the rematch Friday night at 7:05. Atlantic City`s Brian Rodaway (5-4), fifth in the circuit with a 2.26 ERA, faces Quebec`s Michel Simard (6-1), fourth at 2.22.