Two big innings guide Cubs to W
The Cubs plated four unearned runs in the first inning off Tigers' rehabbing starter Jacob Turner. DH Matt Szczur led the inning off with a groundball to the left side of the infield that was bobbled by Lakeland shortstop Dixon Machado. After a successful delayed steal of second #league-leading 12th# with one out, Szczur took third on a wild pitch with RF Nelson Perez at the plate. After Perez walked, 3B Greg Rohan plated Szczur on a fielders' choice, giving Daytona the 1-0 lead. The RBI was Rohan's league-leading 24th of the season. On a 1-0 pitch with two outs, 1B Richard Jones doubled off the left-center field walk scoring Rohan. CF Rubi Silva and LF Elieser Bonne then both hit RBI singles on back-to-back fastballs giving the Cubs the 4-0 lead after one.
Cubs rehabbing starter Matt Loosen went 2.2 strong innings for the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Loosen's fastball was consistently clocked in the low-to-mid 90s with his curveball on-point. Eduardo Figueroa #W, 2-1# came on in relief of Loosen and threw 2.1 perfect innings en route to the victory.
The Flying Tigers plated solo runs in the second and the seventh to cut the Cubs 4-0 lead in half, but Daytona, again, erupted for three insurance runs in the seventh.
C Sergio Burruel walked to lead off the frame. With pinch-runner John Andreoli on first, SS Arismendy Alcantara singled to center. Szczur then doubled to right-center which scored Andreoli and increased the Cubs lead to 5-2. With runners on second and third and no outs, 2B Roni Torreyes and Perez were both unsuccessful at getting a run home, but Rohan came through with the huge two-out hit. A single up the middle plated both Alcantara and Szczur making it a 7-2 ballgame. Rohan finished 1-4 with three RBIs #26#.
Brian Schlitter and Tony Zych both pitched two innings in relief after Figueroa. Schlitter, who has been rehabbing after Tommy John surgery, was promoted to AA-Tennessee after the game. Zych allowed one hit in two scoreless innings of work.
Bonne finished 3-4 and Silva and Alcantara were both 2-4 on the night. Bonne also stole his sixth base of the season and Szczur scored two runs to add onto his league-leading total #20#.
With the win, the Cubs improve to 7-15 on the season. The two teams will make the hour-and-a-half hike down Interstate 4 to play the final two games of the series at Joker Marchant Stadium. Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm.