Figueroa & bats snap skid
RHP Eduardo Figueroa made his first start for Daytona after 37 appearances out of the bullpen between '11 and '12 and was fantastic. Figueroa went five innings and allowed a run (unearned) on two hits. Figueroa has now gone nine innings this season without surrendering an earned run and has only allowed three hits.
The Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on a C Chad Noble single. He plated 2B Rubi Silva after Silva doubled with two outs. Noble finished 2-4 with a double and two RBIs, and had his second straight two-RBI game. Silva went 2-4 with a run and an RBI and now has four multi-hit games this season.
Daytona scored again in the third, twice in the fourth and three times in the fifth. RF Nelson Perez, who came into the game 2-19, went 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. 1B Greg Rohan, who had an excellent defensive game at first base, went 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored, and DH Richard Jones had his second straight two-hit game.
3B Arismendy Alcantara hit a two-run homerun in the fourth, his second of the season, and now has one from both sides of the plate this season.
Cubs Manager Brian Harper shook up the Daytona defensive alignment on Friday. Alcantara made his first start at third, Matt Szczur made his first start in left field, Elieser Bonne made his second start in center field, and Ronny Torreyes started at shortstop for the third time.
RHP Joseph Zeller, a knuckleballer, made his debut for Daytona out of the bullpen and allowed a run on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts in two innings of work.
RHP Larry Suarez and RHP Brian Schlitter both allowed a run in their single innings of work out of the bullpen for Daytona.
The Cubs will look to win their second game in-a-row on Saturday night in Tampa in the deciding game of the three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15pm.