04.14.09
Daytona Cubs OFF to great start in 2009!!!
Yet another back and forth battle between the Daytona Cubs (3-1, 3-1) and the Brevard County Manatees (1-3, 1-3) went the way of the Cubs, who pulled out a 6-5 win in ten innings to earn a sweep of the three-game series. Shortstop Starlin Castro’s bloop single into shallow right field fell just out of the reach of a diving Caleb Gindl to score catcher Mark Reed for the game-winning, walk-off run.
The Cubs had several chances to win the game in the ninth, as hitters came up twice with the bases loaded. Two groudouts later and the game was headed into extras. Relief pitcher David Cales (2-0) allowed just two hits over the final two innings putting Daytona in position to come out victorious.
Reed bunted his way on to lead off the bottom of the tenth, then advanced to third when infielder Zelous Wheeler committed his second error of the game and threw the ball into the visitors bullpen. Two hitters later, Manatees Manager Mike Guerrero would replace left fielder Lee Haydel with an extra infielder, Eric Farris, leaving just two players to man the outfield. Castro would take advantage with the pop fly to shallow right for the winning run.
The Manatees put up the game’s first run after just three batters, but the Cubs would answer quickly. A lead-off double by second baseman Nathan Samson, followed by a Marwin Gonzalez single tied it up at one apiece. Three hitters later, right fielder Dylan Johnston rode a fastball from Manatees starter Mike Jones over the center field wall for his, and the teams, first home run of the season and a 3-1 lead.
Brevard County would regain the lead with a run in the fifth with a run and extend the lead to two with another in the sixth, but the resilient, young Cubs responded in the bottom of the sixth. Three hits and two walks gave the Cubs opportunities to score with the bases loaded and two away. Manatees reliever John Axford walked Reed to bring in one run, then surrendered an RBI hit to centerfielder Jonathan Wyatt. For Wyatt, it marked his first hit and RBI of the 2009 season.
The two teams would combine for 26 hits in the contest as all but one position player to start the game would record a hit. Johnston and Jonathan Wyatt led Daytona with two apiece, while Gindl and Cole Gilliespie both notched three hits for Brevard County.
The Cubs will continue their homestand with a three-game set against the Dunedin Blue Jays beginning Tuesday night. Righty Marcos Mateo is the probable starter for Daytona, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. and gates to open at 6 p.m.
