SURF HOLD OFF LATE RALLY, WIN 7-6 FOR SECOND STRAIGHT
June 4 Recap

Worcester, Mass. – For the second consecutive night, the offense totaled eleven hits, and the bullpen staved off a late Tornadoes rally as the Surf won their second straight, in a Can-Am League game Wednesday night at Fitton Field.

Unlike last night, the Surf didn't strike first. In the bottom of the first, Tornadoes CF BJ Weed led off with a single, and was driven in by DH Francisco Caraballo. Atlantic City responded in the top half of the second with two runs of their own. LF Clyde Williams led off with a walk followed by a Billy Hogan single. The bases were then loaded when DH Eddie Kim roped a single to center. 2B Brad Thoma drove in Williams when he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and C William Plaza drove in Hogan for run number two. The Surf added another run in the third when Williams drove in Hogan with an RBI single.

The Surf would hold the 3-1 advantage until the bottom of the fifth when Tornadoes LF Scott Grimes blasted a solo HR down the left field line. It was the second and final run allowed by Surf starter Adam Cox (2-1) who earned the win, going five strong and allowing two runs while striking out three.

In the top of the sixth, the Surf extended the lead after Tornadoes 2B Omar Pena committed an error with Thoma up at the plate, allowing Kim and Hogan to score. The Tornadoes responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own, making it 5-4.

The Surf added on insurance runs in the seventh and eight innings respectively. In the seventh, CF Lucas Taylor hit a rare solo home run, just his third professional dinger and his first since 2005 when he was a member of the Tornadoes. The Surf scored in the eight after Williams led off with a double, and was driven in by another two bagger by Thoma.

Up 7-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Rory Shortell and Aaron Easton allowed two runs, but were able to shut the door and preserve the victory.

Tornadoes starter Shaun McNamara earned his second loss of the season, pitching six innings and allowing seven runs, five of them earned. Four Surf hitters, Burke, Williams, Hogan, and Kim had two hit nights.

The two teams finish off their three game set tomorrow at 11:00 AM. Righty Ben Thurmond (1-0) starts for the Surf, going up against southpaw Tom Cochran (1-0).

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Atlantic City 021 002 110– 7 11 2
Worcester 100 012 002 – 6 9 2
W: Cox (2-1) L McNamara (0-2). S: Easton (1). HR: AC – Taylor (1) WOR – Grimes (2)
Time: 3:10 Attendance: 1,116