By MICHAEL RADANO
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

Time is running out on the Camden Riversharks' season and Thursday was of no help.

The Atlantic City Surf handed the Sharks a 5-3 loss in front of 5,494 at Campbell's Field. Starter Ryan Schurman allowed five runs on eight hits in seven innings.

``First of all, (Sam Ali) pitched an excellent ballgame,'' Sharks manager Wayne Krenchicki said. ''He was in good control of all three pitches. His fastball, his curveball and his changeup. The biggest mistake he made was with a 5-0 lead he throws the No.9 hitter (John Dorman) a 3- 2 curveball and walks him. That's why he didn't complete the game and their bullpen's a little depleted.''

The game was just another demonstration of an offense, which managed only three hits to Atlantic City's 11, that has failed to live up to its billing all year. In a league that is known as a hitter's league, the Sharks have averaged 4.6 runs over the last 11 games.

Then again, take away a 17-run outburst Monday against Nashua and the Sharks are averaging 3.1 runs. That's not even good in a pitcher's league.

Atlantic City (13-18 half, 51-43 overall), which came off a win Wednesday after losing a league-record 11 straight games, scored solo runs in the second and third innings. In the second Danny Perez singled to lead off the inning. Enohel Polanco's one-out triple gave the Surf a 1-0 lead. Maleke Fowler's solo home run to dead center to start the third was good for the 2-0 lead.

``Schurman pitched all right,'' Krenchicki said. ``He just pitched into some bad luck.''

With one out in the third, Dorman hit a pop up into short right field. Perez, who usually plays left when he isn't the designated hitter, reached the ball in time and slid under the fly. He was unable to come up with the ball and it was ruled an error. Several in the park believed it was a hit, but that may have been the desperate talk of what has become simply, a bad team.

Atlantic City still has hopes of a division title as it entered the game just five back of leader Somerset. During the 11-game losing streak, four of the losses came in two doubleheaders that were seven-inning affairs. The losses also came to North Division teams Nashua, Bridgeport and Long Island.

Down 5-0 in the eighth, the Sharks finally got to Ali, the Atlantic League's pitcher of the month in July. Ali, who went eight innings in which he struck out six and allowed only three hits, walked Dorman with one out. Haddon Township graduate Brad Strauss then hit his eighth home run and second in as many days, over the right field wall.

``Late in the game I felt a little fatigued. I was rushing to the plate instead of staying back, that's why I was having trouble throwing strikes,'' Ali said.

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