Daytona spoils early lead in 8-5 loss
July 31, 2005 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla-If recent history has proven anything to the Daytona Cubs in 2005, it's that when they tangle with the Fort Myers Miracle no lead is ever safe for either club.
And the Cubs were once again given a cruel reminder of that fact on Saturday night.
In Game 3 of a four-game series at Hammond Stadium, the Cubs squandered an early 5-0 lead, as Fort Myers score eight unanswered runs down the stretch and surged to the victory by a final of 8-5.
Daytona took the first lead of the ballgame when right fielder J.J. Johnson stroked a two-RBI double off of Miracle starter Tristan Crawford (5-4) to knock in first baseman Brian Dopirak and designated hitter Paul O'Toole and give the Cubs an early 2-0 lead.
The Cubs would add to that lead an inning later when they scored three runs on four hits, capped off by a two-run blast from Dopirak to left-centerfield that gave Daytona some breathing room.
But Fort Myers wasted little time in bouncing back as they tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth with a five-run six-hit attack, highlighted by a pair of RBI doubles from second baseman Luke Hughes and first baseman Brock Peterson.
Finally, the Miracle then surged ahead for good in the sixth frame, as they scored three runs off of Cubs righty Anderson Tavarez (3-10) to take an 8-5 lead they would hold onto the rest of the way.
Cubs starter J.R. Mathes was rock solid during his first four innings of work, as he toted a two-hit shutout into the fifth, but the lefty later surrendered four earned runs on eight hits and finished the evening with a no-decision.
Miracle left-hander Jay Sawatski also earned his ninth save of the season the old fashioned way, as he pitched the final three innings and gave up just two hits to preserve the win for Fort Myers.
With the loss, the Daytona Cubs dropped to 13-22 on the second half of the season, as Fort Myers took a 2-1 series lead and improved to an even 17-17.
The two teams will meet for the final time in the 2005 regular season on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. EST, as the Cubs send righty Randy Wells (5-2, 3.51 ERA) to the bump to square off against Miracle lefty and former Cubs farmhand Justin Jones (4-1, 3.09 ERA).
Florida State League Stories from July 31, 2005
- Cubs surge past Miracle in 7-4 win - Daytona Tortugas
- Cardinals' offense lacking in 5-1 loss to Threshers - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Miracle finish dismal homestand 3-6, lose 7-4 to Cubs - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- VB Dodgers take third straight over Tigers - Vero Beach Devil Rays
- Daytona spoils early lead in 8-5 loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Mathieson, Threshers shut down Cardinals 3-1 - Palm Beach Cardinals
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