Scoring drought snapped, Cubs comeback in Clearwater

After going 33 innings in-a-row without a run scored, Daytona used a three-run eighth and tremendous pitching to top the Clearwater Thrershers on Tuesday.

By Robbie Aaron

August 5, 2014

Clearwater, FL - The Daytona Cubs snapped a 33 inning scoreless streak in a three-run eighth that yielded a 3-1 victory over the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday night at Bright House Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the eighth with one out, CF Jacob Hannemann singled and stole second, & SS Marco Hernandez singled to put runners on the corners. After C Kyle Schwarber walked to load the bases, 1B Dan Vogelbach lifted a ball to deep left to score Hannemann on a sacrifice fly and snap the offensive slump. LF Rock Shoulders then walked to re-load the bases for RF Billy McKinney. McKinney, who entered the plate appearance 4-for-6 with the bases loaded, lined a two-run single to right to put Daytona up 3-1. McKinney is now 5-for-7 with 15 RBIs with the bases loaded since joining Daytona. McKinney has driven in 25 runs for the Cubs in 26 games played.

RHP Stephen Perakslis (W, 3-0) entered the game in the sixth and tossed three no-hit scoreless frames. Perakslis issued just one walk in the sixth to RF Brian Pointer.

LHP Rob Zastryzny started the game for the Cubs and worked five innings, allowing the run in the first inning on five total hits, with a walk and five strikeouts.

RHP Zack Godley notched his fourth save with a scoreless ninth inning.

With three hits in the eighth, Daytona snapped a streak of 31-straight innings without a multi-hit frame.

Until McKinney broke through in the eighth, Daytona had been 1-for-its-last-23 with runners in scoring position with no runs scored.

Hannemann finished 2-for-5 with a run and a stolen base.

2B Gioskar Amaya went 1-for-4 with a double and RF Bijan Rademacher went 1-for-4 with a triple.

Shoulders finished the game with three walks, and has an on-base percentage of .531 against the Clearwater Threshers this season.

With the win, the Cubs snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 52-58 on the season and 26-16 in the second half. With the Brevard County Manatees loss, the Cubs move to five games up in the FSL North Second Half standings.

The Cubs and Threshers will play game two of the four-game series on Wednesday at Bright House Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.