Surf sunk by late surge
August 22, 2008 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Atlantic City Surf News Release
Augusta, New Jersey- The Atlantic City Surf found themselves unable to withstand a late-inning Sussex surge and fell to the Skyhawks 4-2 Friday night at Skylands Park.
Sussex C Yohanny Valera's RBI single highlighted a two-run bottom of the eighth for the home team to break a 2-2 tie and closer Matt Petrusek came on in the ninth for his 21st save of the season.
The Surf drew first blood in the top of the third inning. CF Josh Burrus drew a 2-out walk and 1B Eddie Kim followed with an RBI double off of Skyhawks hurler Gary Galvez to make it a 1-0 Atlantic City lead.
Galvez lasted six strong innings for Sussex, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts for a no decision.
Surf starter Adam Cox threw four scoreless innings and gave up just three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. It was the first start for the Atlantic City southpaw since July 25th.
Cox left in the fifth in favor of righthander Derek Barrows. Sussex 3B Jay Yaconetti took advantage of the pitching change, taking a Barrows pitch over the left field wall to start the bottom of the fifth inning and knotting the game at one apiece.
Atlantic City reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when DH William Plaza's 2-out RBI single plated Eddie Kim. Sussex again answered back in the bottom half of the inning when CF Ron Perodin's single off of Surf reliever Walker Whitley scored Chris Brown at locked the ballclubs at 2.
The Surf had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth when LF Joe Burke scorched a leadoff triple against Sussex lefty Roger Lincoln. The southpaw then settled down and struck out Burrus, gor Kim to line out to third, and then fanned Jason Hurst to strand Burke.
Brown led off the bottom half of the frame with a single and then moved up to second on a Whitley wild pitch. After a flyout by OF Alex Frazier advanced Brown to third, Valera's single gave Sussex a 3-2 lead. A fielder's choice by Kevin Rios later scored Valera.
Lincoln (1-0) threw two scoreless innings of one hit ball to pick up the win. Whitley (1-4) went two and thirds for the Surf and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with two walks, three strikeouts, and three wild pitches and took the loss.
Plaza paced the Surf offense with a 2-for-4 night and an RBI. Eddie Kim, Anthony Granato, and Joe Burke each had a hit apiece in the losing effort.
The Surf have now dropped five of their last six and currently sit in the fourth and final spot for the 2008 Can-Am League Playoffs. Atlantic City meets Sussex again Saturday in a late afternoon matinee. Rory Shortell (8-3) starts for the Surf while Sussex counters with Justin Knoff (3-0). First pitch from Skylands Park is 5:05.
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Canadian American League Stories from August 22, 2008
- Kelly becomes all-time wins and strikeouts leader, Dunn gets record-setting 22nd save - Brockton Rox
- Jackals dropped by Rox - New Jersey Jackals
- Surf sunk by late surge - Atlantic City Surf
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- Tornadoes falter in slugfest - Worcester Tornadoes
- Skyhawks cruise past Surf - Sussex Skyhawks
- Pride Downed by Quebec, 9-2 - American Defenders of New Hampshire
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