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Daytona Tortugas

Cubs win in extras over Mets

July 20, 2009 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


The Daytona Cubs (12-11) offense came to life in extra innings as they defeated the St. Lucie Mets (8-13), 5-2. The Cubs opened with a run in the first inning. Mets starter Tim Stronach got the first two batters, but issued two straight walks to Brandon Guyer and Robinson Chirinos. First baseman Jake Opitz followed with a line drive into right field to open the scoring and put the Cubs in front 1-0.

St. Lucie tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks in part to a Cubs error. Designated hitter Greg Veloz led off with a ground ball to the shortstop Starlin Castro and it went right between his legs to put a runner on with nobody out. Center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis grounded into a fielder's choice before Stefan Welch singled to put runners at the corners. After a strike out of Zach Lutz, right fielder Carlos Guzman came through with two outs and smoked a ground rule double to center field to even the game at one run apiece.

Daytona took the lead back in the top of the sixth inning. Designated hitter Josh Vitters smoked an offering from reliever Edgar Ramirez to the deepest part of the park for a lead-off triple. His former Peoria teammate Josh Harrison quickly brought him in with a single up the middle to put the Cubs out in front 2-1. Cubs starter Ryan Searle continued his strong month of July as he pitched six innings and allowed just the one unearned run and struck out three Mets.

St. Lucie capitalized on Searle's departure as Francisco Pena hit a home run over the left field wall off of Cubs reliever Todd Blackford to tie the game at two. The score remained tied at two until the eleventh inning. Mets closer Manuel Alvarez (3-2) issued a one out walk to Harrison. Marwin Gonzalez made Alvarez pay as he tripled down the right field line to score Harrison and give the Cubs the lead. With two outs Tony Campana drove home Gonzalez with a single up the middle and then advanced to third on a Satrlin Castro single. Campana would score on a Guyer single up the middle which gave the Cubs a 5-2 lead. The Mets had a chance to win in the tenth as they had the bases loaded, but David Cales (3-0) came into end the threat and worked a scoreless eleventh to secure the victory. The Cubs will go for the sweep over the Mets Tuesday night with the first pitch set for 7:00 p.m.

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