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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Smithlin inside the park home run highlights 8-0 win over Surf

August 16, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - In front of a capacity crowd of 3,838 fans on Saturday night at Yogi Berra Stadium, Jackals CF Zack Smithlin provided the in-game fireworks in the bottom of the sixth inning when he hit a three-run inside the park home run as New Jersey cruised to an 8-0 win against the Atlantic City Surf.

The home run, Smithlin's second in his six-year career and first since 2005, came with one out and runners on first and second. Smithlin hit a low line drive to right field against Surf reliever Derek Duclos which snuck past a diving Josh Burrus and rolled to the wall. Jackals LF Andrew Larsen and RF Billy Kovatch scored on the play, and Smithlin's head-first dive into home plate beat the throw from Burrus as the Jackals took a 5-0 lead.

Lost in the offensive outburst was the performance of Jackals' starting pitcher Ted Serro (4-3) who hurled seven shutout innings and allowed four hits and one walk with five strikeouts to earn the win in his best outing of the season. The loss went to Atlantic City's J.C. Huguet (8-6) after he surrendered five runs - four earned - on eleven hits in six innings.

The Jackals opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when they took a 1-0 lead. C Matt Lauderdale led off with a double down the left field line. After a sacrifice bunt by 3B Chris Kelly advanced the runner to third, Lauderdale scored on a passed ball to give the Jackals an early advantage. In the fifth inning, the Jackals extended their lead to 2-0 when Kovatch began the frame with a single, was bunted over to second by Smithlin, and scored on an RBI single by SS Bryant Nelson.

Already up 5-0 after the Smithlin home run in the sixth, New Jersey added a run in the seventh inning on a Larsen RBI base knock to take a 6-0 lead. The Jackals then capped the scoring with two unearned runs in the eighth inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead which they would not relinquish.

Offensively for the Jackals, 2B Marcus Sanders went 4-5 with four singles. Kovatch also had a good night, collecting three singles and a walk in four trips to the plate. Lauderdale added a double and an RBI in a 3-4 night at the dish. With the win, the Jackals ended a six-game skid against Atlantic City. However, New Jersey still lost half a game in the standings as the Sussex Skyhawks swept a doubleheader against the Ottawa Rapidz. The Jackals are five games behind the Skyhawks for the final Can-Am League playoff spot with 15 games remaining in the regular season.

The Jackals and Surf conclude their three-game series on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. when New Jersey left-hander Isaac Pavlik (8-4, 3.41 ERA) makes the start for the Jackals on three days rest following back-to-back shutout performances. Left-hander Brian Rodaway (9-7, 3.61 ERA) will take the hill for Atlantic City. If you can't make it out to Yogi Berra Stadium, tune in to the Jackals live webcast at www.jackals.com to catch every inning of action with the broadcast beginning five minutes prior to first pitch.

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