ATLANTIC CITY _ The Newark Bears used a strong pitching performance by knuckeballer Joe Gannon and and timely hitting from outfielder Jose Herrera and catcher Abraham Ayala to defeat the Atlantic City Surf 7-3 Thursday night at Sandcastle Stadium before 2051.Gannon pitched eight innings and scattered eight hits while allowing just three runs, all earned. Gannon also struck out one and walked one on his to his first victory of the season.
Lincoln Mikkelson took the loss for Atlantic City in his first outing in a Surf uniform. The Bears scored five runs off Mikkelson in the fifth inning after trailing 1-0 going into the frame. That was the difference as Mikkelson and Gannon had been locked in a pitcher's duel.
Herrera was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Newark, 2-0.
Ayala was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Bears, who scored two runs in the seventh inning for insurance.
Tom Goodwin was 2-for-4 for the Surf, 0-1.
The two teasms meet again Friday at the Sandcastle at 6:35 p.m. where Greg Bauer for Newark will face Andy Beal for Atlantic City.
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