CUBS SWEPT IN DOUBLEHEADER TO YANKEES
Rusin and Siegfried Highlight Series First Two Games
The Daytona Cubs (39-40, 5-4) got swept in Fridays doubleheader against the Tampa Yankees (42-33, 6-1). The series finale lasted 14 innings before Bradley Suttle hit a walk-off home run for Tampa in a 4-3 decision, and the D-Cubs offense never found their groove in a 4-2 loss in game two.
The Daytona Cubs scored first in the series opener off Tampa starter Manuel Banuelos in the third inning off a fielding error by second baseman Walter Ibarra to score Junior Lake give the D-Cubs a 1-0 lead.
With the game suspended by rain Daytona starter Alberto Cabrera was asked to continue the first game with a 1-0 lead, but surrendered a solo home run to Corbin Joseph in the fourth inning, and an RBI double also by Joseph to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
Jake Opitz entering as a pinch hitter for Daytona in the ninth inning down one-run was able to score David Macias on a fielder choice off of Tampa reliever Jonathan Ortiz to tie the game at 2-2.
The series opener would be back in fourth until the 14th inning when D-Cubs reliever Oswaldo Martinez (3-4) allowed a walk-off home run to Bradley Suttle giving the Tampa Yankees a 4-3 win.
Martinez took the loss for Daytona and Noel Castillo (1-1) picked up the victory with a scoreless top of the 14th inning.
In the second game of the doubleheader the Daytona Cubs offense struck first, but couldn’t last in a double loss in the hands of the Tampa Yankees.
The Cubs struck first in the second inning. Yankees starter Dellin Betances issued a lead-off walk to first baseman Rebel Ridling and then hit right fielder Kyler Burke with a pitch to put runners at first and second. After a strike out of Jake Opitz, Betances surrendered a single to catcher Michael Brenly. Ridling came home on the play and gave Daytona the 1-0 advantage.
In a spot start, Chris Siegfried was very effective in 2.2 innings. The lefty struck out five Yankee batters and only surrendered two hits.
Alex Maestri came on in relief of Siegfried and did not get any help from the Cubs defense. In the fourth inning right fielder Zoilo Almonte reached on a lead-off walk. First baseman Myron Leslie then reached on an error by shortstop Junior Lake. Almonte went all the way to third on the play. Left fielder Jack Rye then smacked a sac fly to left field to score Almonte. A single from catcher Mitch Abeita put runners at first and third. Things continued to go wrong as second baseman Ryan Flaherty mishandled a Walter Ibarra ground ball. Leslie scored on the play and Abeita finished up at second. Things did not get better as the D-Cubs committed their fourth error of the game on an errant throw from first baseman Rebel Ridling that ricocheted off Junior Lake’s glove at short-stop that plated another Tampa run giving the Yankees a 4-1 lead.
Down 4-1 in the seventh inning Jake Opitz led off with an infield single for the D-Cubs. Michael Brenly responded with his second RBI of the game as he doubled to deep center field to bring the Cubs within two runs off Yankees’ reliever Phil Bartleski.
Alex Maestri (0-1) took the loss for Daytona and Tampa starter Dellin Betances (3-0) picked up the victory.