Cubs rally falls short in 5-2 loss
August 31, 2005 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla-After the second consecutive hour-long rain delay suspended the start of a game between the Daytona Cubs and Palm Beach Cardinals, Game 2 on Tuesday night became a simple contest of which club had enough gas left in the tank. Apparently the Cardinals were the ones burning at a higher octane, because they still had a few drops left after the tarp was finally pulled.
Palm Beach starter Jose Garcia (7-5) shutdown the Daytona attack as he logged six innings of two-hit shutout ball and struck out four, en route to his seventh win of the season as Palm Beach evened the series with a victory by a final of 5-2.
Daytona was held scoreless through the first seven innings, until third baseman Scott Moore poked a two-out two-RBI single up the middle to plate home Chris Walker and Enrique Cruz to close the deficit to 3-2. But Palm Beach put a damper on the Cubs rally as the Cards added a pair of ninth inning runs with a two-RBI double from catcher Matt Pagnozzi to put the game out of reach and preserve the win.
Cubs newcomer Matt Weber (0-1) made the start for Daytona in his first Florida State League appearance since a recent call-up from Peoria, and the righty was charged with the loss after surrendering just one earned run on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. With the loss the Cubs dropped below .500 to a second half record of 31-32, as the Cardinals remained in first place and improved to 38-27. Palm Beach also increased their lead over Vero Beach to 1.5 games temporarily, as the Dodgers and Brevard County Manatees were suspended due to rain in the second inning with the Manatees on top 7-0.
The Cubs will try to take the rubber match of the series on Wednesday afternoon as they send righty Juan Mateo (10-5, 3.19 ERA) to the hill to square off against Cardinals righty-hander Matt Parisi (5-5, 3.14 ERA). First pitch is set for a special start time of 10:35 p.m. EST.
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