LAKELAND TAKES FIRST TWO FROM DAYTONA
Cubs Manage Just One Run
The Flying Tigers struck in the first inning with an uncommon run-scoring play off the bat of third baseman Francisco Martinez. Cubs starter Oswaldo Martinez (3-7) had walked Pat McKenna and Jordan Lennerton with one out to set up the play. Martinez then blasted a deep fly ball into the gap in right-center. Cubs center fielder Jose Valdez was able to track it down, but crashed into the wall and a relay throw was late coming in as McKenna tagged up and scored all the way from second base.
LAKELAND, FL – The Daytona Cubs (40-28, 74-64) dropped the second-to-last game of the season on Saturday night to the Lakeland Flying Tigers (34-33, 71-66), 3-1. The Cubs offense was held down for the second straight night at Joker Marchant Stadium and Lakeland did just enough to pull out the victory.
Lakeland tacked on a couple more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Cubs reliever Alex Maestri. Right fielder started the rally with a one-out single to right field. He was pushed to second with a walk to Luis Castillo. Shortstop Gustavo Nunez drove in the second run of the game with a single to center field. Nunez was then picked off of first, but Maestri’s throw to second ended up in center field and Castillo came in to score and put Lakeland up by three.
Daytona scored their only run in the top of the eighth inning. Reliever Matt Little issued back to back walks to Jose Valdez and Junior Lake. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu grounded into a fielder’s choice that put runners at first and third for Ryan Flaherty. The Cubs second baseman rolled out to first base, but brought in Valdez.
Lakeland starter Jeff Barfield (1-2) takes home his first win of the 2010 season with six scoreless innings on the hill. Martinez was saddled with the loss in the spot-start. He lasted three innings and gave up just one run on no hits. Bruce Rondon came in to pitch the final 1.1 innings for his second save of the year.