Wells earns first Daytona win, Monday

After starting the season with two no-decisions, Cubs starter Ben Wells tossed six shutout innings on Monday at Bright House Field in Clearwater and earned the win in Daytona's 8-1 victory.

By Michael West

April 15, 2013

Clearwater, FL - The Daytona Cubs (6-5) jumped all over the Clearwater Threshers (5-6) in an 8-1 win on Monday night at Bright House Field, the first meeting since the Threshers swept the Cubs last week at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

In a rematch of last Wednesday's pitching match-up, it was a tale of two drastically different outings for Cubs RHP Ben Wells and Threshers LHP Hoby Milner.

The Cubs pounced on Milner (L, 0-2) early, utilizing some timely two out hitting from 3B Dave Bote and CF Zeke DeVoss in the second inning.

Looking to add more to the one run they had already scored in the second, Bote laced a two-out, two-run double to right-center field to extend the Cubs' lead to 3-0. DeVoss then plated Bote on a single of his own to push Daytona's lead to 4-0 and subsequently chase Milner out of the game.

With two on and two outs in the fourth inning, DeVoss struck again as he belted a two-run triple into the left-center gap, just out of the reach of LF Carlos Alonso who dove in attempt to make the catch.

That early cushion wound up being more than enough for Wells (W, 1-0) as he dazzled in his third outing of the season. Wells wove a brilliant six innings of shutout ball by scattering five hits, striking out four and walking just one Clearwater batter.

After allowing six runs in an April 11 game against the Threshers, RHP Yeiper Castillo bounced back nicely with two innings of shutout ball, allowing just one base hit in relief.

Bote and DeVoss were joined by LF John Andreoli, 2B Stephen Bruno and DH Ben Carhart as five Daytona Cubs had multiple hits in Monday's opener.

Bruno extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games, with seven of the nine being multi-hit games for the former Virginia Cavalier. He has also reached base in each of Daytona's first 11 games.

Bruno wasn't the only one looking to keep a streak alive. With a second inning single, 1B Dustin Geiger pushed his hitting streak up to eight games.

The Cubs will hand the ball to freshly-named FSL Pitcher of the Week RHP Ryan Searle (1-0, 0.00) in game two of the three-game series. The Threshers will counter with RHP Perci Garner (1-0, 1.50), who was the winning pitcher in Clearwater's April 11 matchup with Daytona.

First pitch from Bright House Field on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.