FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Threshers Take Down Cubs in Series Opener

Published on May 1, 2009 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


CLEARWATER - The Clearwater Threshers (12-9) used a four run seventh inning to defeat the Daytona Cubs (9-12), 5-3. Cubs newcomer Jake Opitz gave the Cubs an early lead in the third on a single through the middle that brought home Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro. Opitz was called up from Extended Spring Training after Marquez Smith was promoted to Double-A Tennessee. The Cubs added a second run in the fifth inning as catcher Robinson Chirinos tripled to lead off the inning. Chirinos is now second in the Florida State League with four triples. Shortstop Starlin Castro then brought in Chirinos with a high-chopper over the head of the shortstop Freddy Galvis. Castro has four RBI on the year. Clearwater cut the Cubs lead in half in the bottom of the fifth. Centerfielder Javis Diaz reached on a walk and moved to second on a ground out. With Dominic Brown at the plate, Diaz stole third and came home to score as the throw down ended up in left field.

Andrew Cashner looked good in his second start of 2009. The talented righty was on a pitch count and only worked three and a third, but only surrendered two hits and struck out two.

The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the seventh. Threshers left fielder Derrick Mitchell led off the inning with a walk from Cubs reliever Steve Vento (0-3). Second baseman Fidel Hernandez then singled to center field and Cubs centerfielder Tony Campana over ran the ball which allowed Mitchell to come all the way around from first to score.

Hernandez later advanced to third on on a bunt from center fielder Javis Diaz and then scored off a ground ball from shortstop Freddy Galvis, which gave the Threshers their first lead of the game. Just a few batters later designated hitter Matt Rizzotti crushed a ball to deep centerfield driving in Galvis, and right fielder Dominic Brown giving the Threshers a 5-2 lead.

The Cubs did not go down quietly as they attempted to come back in the ninth. First baseman Russ Canzler led off the inning with a double to left centerfield and scored on a Starlin Castro single Closer Jared Simon did not give up anything more as he picked up his sixth save of the season.

The Cubs and Threshers will square off again tomorrow night, with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from May 1, 2009


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