Manatees pound Cubs

April 8, 2006

Alcides Escobar's bases-clearing double in the second inning sparked visiting Brevard County's 7-1 rout of Daytona on Saturday.

Yovani Gallardo (1-0) earned the win, giving up an unearned run on three hits while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings. Robert Hinton relieved Gallardo for 2 1/3 innings before Josh Alliston closed out the game in the ninth.

Travis Ezi was key for the Manatees, going 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Charlie Fermaint and Hernan Iribarren also had two hits apiece.

Luke Hagerty (0-1) lost his first start of the season, pitching just 2 1/3 innings. After escaping unscathed in the first, he gave up four earned runs on three hits and three walks.

Chris Shaver relieved Hagerty and kept the Manatees (3-0) scoreless in the next four innings.

Sam Fuld led the Cubs (0-3) offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Cubs and Manatees finish out their four-game series at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. --Christopher Heine/MLB.com