After the Cubs bullpen faced the minimum through eight innings, the ninth inning was not kind to Blake Parker, who blew the save and lost the game. It started with a single by Jupiter catcher Chris Hatcher. Smelin Perez stepped in with one out and got hit by a pitch. Next batter was Bryan Petersen, who walked. Bases loaded and one out for Daron Roberts and he came up big with a two run single to tie the game. Jayson Ruhlman relieved Parker and retired Logan Morrison. But with two outs, Vasili Spanos drilled a game-winning, walk-off double to deliver the Cubs a crushing blow.
With the letters “LOB” giving Cubs batters nightmares, Daytona came into Monday night’s ballgame determined not to strand the game’s first batter. Tony Thomas, returning to the lineup after sitting several games with an injury, drew a lead off walk. After Jim Adduci sacrificed Thomas to second base, Thomas stole third. With two outs, Canzler came through with an RBI single to get the Cubs on the board, 1-0.
Jeremy Papelbon put together a very nice outing as a starter in this game. The key for Papelbon was ground ball outs. Through five innings, Papelbon recorded just one out on a fly ball to the outfield. Papelbon also put up four strikeouts over his five innings of work. Most importantly, no runs came across to score, extending Papelbon’s consecutive scoreless innings streak to 25.2 innings.
Even after Papelbon left the game, the bullpen continued to dominate, as the Cubs faced the minimum through eight innings. Todd Blackford went six up, six down over two innings of work. Brian Schlitter came into the eighth inning and induced a ground out to short. Then, Schlitter struck out Kevin Randel and Spike McDougall to get out of the inning.
The push for the playoffs continues Tuesday when the Cubs conclude their series against the Jupiter Hammerheads beginning at 6:35pm at Roger Dean Stadium. Catch the broadcast o