Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-14-05

[Chris]

A little silver lining, we got Dave Keller's q & a tonight!

[Deeg]

Here's a fun story from the minor leagues today:

 

Elephant throws out first pitch in West Michigan game.

 

Alfonseca was demoted?

[Jon]

Thanks, Bo

 

CUBBIES HEAD HOME AFTER A WEEK ON THE ROAD

 

A Look Back At The Six-Game Road Trip Where Daytona Finished 2-4 But Headed Home On A High Note Sunday Afternoon

 

By Bo Fulginiti

 

JUPITER, Fla—If all’s well that ends well, then the Daytona Cubs still have a reason to hold their heads high despite a 2-4 record during their recent six-game road trip that ended Sunday in Jupiter, Florida.

 

In a pair of three game sets against the Eastern Division rival Vero Beach Dodgers and Jupiter Hammerheads, Daytona avoid two series sweeps as they left both towns pulling out series-ending victories.

 

In the opening series of the trip against the Dodgers at Holman Stadium, the Vero Beach offense awoken late in Game 1 of a double-header, and it carried them through the rest of the night.

 

The Cubs had a 2-0 lead through most of the first contest, as starter Juan Mateo pitched six full innings and gave up just four hits when he handed the ball to the ‘pen with one on and nobody out in the seventh. It was later that inning when dependable lefty Clay Rapada (1-3) gave up a game-ending three-run homerun to Dodger third baseman Cole Bruce which gave Vero Beach the dramatic win by a final of 3-2.

 

The Dodgers carried their lumber and their momentum into the back end of the double dip as they pounded Daytona 14-5. Lefty J.R. Mathes (8-7) was charged with 10 earned runs in 1.2 innings of work, and was slapped with the Game 2 loss.

 

Daytona did save face in the series finale, as they pounded the Dodgers by a final of 10-0. Righty Randy Wells (7-2) got the win as he registered five innings of shutout ball and struck out six for his seventh win of the season for the Cubs. Daytona centerfielder Chris Walker led the way in a 3-for-5 effort at the plate with a pair of two-RBI triples and two runs scored.

 

The Cubs then headed down I-95 South to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter to take on the Hammerheads for the three-game series, and Daytona soon found themselves falling into a familiar pattern.

 

Daytona dropped the opener on Friday night by a final of 6-2, as right-hander Anderson Tavarez (4-11) pitched well in the spot start by giving up just two earned runs in five innings, but was still charged with the loss after a lack of run support.

 

The Cubbie offensive became even more silent the following evening, as Hammerheads lefty Paul Mildren (8-3) took center stage on Saturday night with a two-hit shutout performance in 7.2 innings of work to notch his eighth win. The only two hits the Cubs mustered up the entire evening were a single from first baseman Brian Dopriak, and a late-inning double from third baseman Issmael Salas.

 

Then in the afternoon finale on Sunday at “The Dean,” the Cubs decided to leave on a high note due in large part to the pitching effort from southpaw Yorkin Ferreras (2-3). Ferreras tossed a three-hit shutout in six innings of work and recorded six strikeouts to help Daytona avoid the sweep and head back to Jackie Robinson Ballpark in good spirits.

 

Despite the sub par trip, there were a few silver linings in the dark Daytona clouds. First and foremost was All-Star centerfielder Chris Walker who batted .400 during the six-games (10-25), including a double, two triples, six runs scored and five RBI’s. Infielder Issmael Salas also added three doubles in bits and pieces of four games at the plate.

 

Standing tall on the mound for the Cubs was right-handed reliever Lee Gwaltney, who pitched five total innings in three appearances during the trip, and gave up no runs on one hit while he struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.64.

 

With the 2-4 ledger during the East Coast swing, the Cubs record fell to 22-27 on the second half of the season. Daytona will now enjoy a rare day off on Monday before they head back to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday for a three-game series against the Dodgers.

 

Righty Juan Mateo (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will look to start the Cubs out on the right foot as he makes his 13th start of the season.

 

First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EST.