HUGUET BEATS PRIDE AGAIN AS SURF HOLD ON 4-2
Nashua, N.H.- Atlantic City Surf starter J.C. Huguet picked up his second victory against the Nashua Pride and his team-leading fifth win of the season as the Surf held off the Pride 4-2 in front of 1143 fans Tuesday night at Historic Holman Stadium.
Huguet (5-1) tossed seven innings (five scoreless) and gave up just two runs on two hits while walking just one and striking out two. The Surf offense would do its part, giving Huguet a three run lead to work with heading into the bottom of the 4th.
Atlantic City first baseman Eddie Kim highlighted a three-run top of the 4th inning when his double off Nashua starter Nicolas Suero scored both Josh Burrus and Anthony Granato. Rookie third baseman Gil Zayas would later follow with an RBI single that scored Kim.
Huguet gave up his first run of the night in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a solo home run by Nashua outfielder Dennis Abreu to make it a 3-1 ballgame. The Surf answered back in the top of the seventh when Zayas smacked a two-out double to left center field. Atlantic City outfielder Billy Kovatch singled up the middle to plate Zayas and increase the Surf lead to 4-1.
Nashua's only other run of the contest would come in the bottom of the seventh when first baseman Bryan Duplissie led off with a homer off of Huguet. The two home runs served as the only two hits that the righty surrendered all night.
The Surf bullpen of Kyle George, Derek Duclos, and Walker Whitley would combine over the final two innings to preserve the win. George hit one batter to start the eighth and allowed Nashua's Jack Joffrion to reach on a fielder's choice before bearing down and retiring two straight batters. He would leave with two outs in favor of Duclos. The Surf closer got help from his defense as left fielder Billy Kovatch made a diving catch on a line drive from Nashua's Ismael Castro to get out of the eighth inning.
Duclos allowed a hit to Nashua's Jeremy Pickrel to start the ninth and the Surf brought in righthander Walker Whitley. The sidewinder
gave up one hit then settled down with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.
Suero (2-4) took the loss for the Pride. The native of the Dominican Republic took responsibility for all four Atlantic City runs (all earned) on seven hits to go along with a walk and three strikeouts.
Eddie Kim finished the night 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for Atlantic City. Gil Zayas added a 2-for-4 night with a run scored and an RBI. Kovatch chipped in with a 1-for-3 performance and an RBI and Josh Burrus went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the win.
The Surf (19-19) have now won five of their six meetings with the Pride (17-20) this season. The two teams wrap up their three-game series Wednesday Night from Historic Holman Stadium. Lefty Adam Cox (3-2) gets the ball for Atlantic City while Nashua counters with its righty Jarret Stawarz (3-1). First pitch is 7:05 PM.
