Cubs Blank 'Tees as Saunders Proves Clutch

Jose Rosario (6IP), Austin Reed (2IP), & Andrew McKirahan combined to pitch in the Cubs' 2-0 shutout on Friday, while Tim Saunders drove in the lone runs of the game with a triple in the fourth.

By Robbie Aaron

April 26, 2014

Daytona Beach, FL - Three Daytona pitchers combined for the first Cubs shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Brevard County Manatees on Saturday at Radiology Associates Field.

RHP Jose Rosario (W, 2-2) built off a strong previous outing in Clearwater and tossed six innings in his longest start of the season. After throwing four shutout frames against the Threshers on Monday, Rosario allowed five hits with three walks and season-high six strikeouts over his six innings.

In the third, the Manatees recorded three-straight singles with one out to load the bases, but Rosario struck out LF Victor Roache, and induced a CF Michael Reed pop-out to end the inning.

The lone runs of the night were scored as a part of a two-out rally in the fourth for the Cubs. With nobody on and two away, C Chadd Krist singled to right. After LF Rock Shoulders singled putting runners on the corners, DH Tim Saunders battled with a two-strike count and lined a scorched two-run triple to the right-center field wall to put the Cubs up 2-0. Saunders also stole his team-leading eighth base of the season.

RHP Austin Reed relieved Rosario in the seventh and tossed two fantastic innings to get the Cubs to the ninth. In his two frames, Reed worked a 1-2-3 seventh and allowed just a lone infield single in the eighth.

LHP Andrew McKirahan (S, 1) picked up his first Daytona Cubs save with a perfect ninth inning. The flawless frame lowered the lefties' ERA to 1.08 in six appearances this season.

RF Bijan Rademacher extended his team-high hitting streak to 10-straight games with a hard-hit single in the first inning. Rademacher went 2-for-4 and raised his batting average to .365 on the season, good for third in the Florida State League. Krist and Shoulders both recorded two hits as well.

With the win, the Cubs have now won three games in-a-row and six of their last seven. Daytona will look for the four-game sweep of the Manatees on Sunday at Radiology Associates Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.