Cubs falter again in extra innings

By MIKE LOVECCHIO
Daytona News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- Daytona continues to struggle in one-run games.

For the second consecutive night the Cubs fell in extra innings, this time to the Fort Myers Miracle 5-4 in 12 innings just one night after falling to Jupiter in 10 innings.

Daytona held a 4-3 lead going into the eighth inning, but a leadoff walk by Steve Tolleson came back to haunt the Cubs after Juan Portes knocked Tolleson home on a single later in the inning.

Tolleson struck again in the 12th inning, lacing a double to left-center field scoring Brian Dinkelman for the go-ahead run.

Daytona fought back in the bottom half of the inning with Yusuf Carter and Alfred Joseph hitting back-to-back singles with one out, but Adam Hawnes sealed the deal for Ft. Myers getting the next two hitters out in order.

"I don't like losing two games period," Daytona manager Jody Davis said. "We had several chances to get a big hit and win the game. Yesterday it was errors, today it was a leadoff walk."

Brian Dopirak continued to hit the ball well, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the fifth inning that gave Daytona its 4-3 lead. If Dopirak continues to hit the way he has as of late, a promotion back up to Double-A Tennessee may be approaching.

"I feel close. It's all about bats and trying to be productive," Dopirak said. "I've been pretty confident up there. I've been able to stay patient at the plate and be more selective to try and get something to hit."

Dopirak's 15th home run of the season put pitcher Paul Schappert in contention to pick up the win in his first start since returning to Daytona, but Tim Layden gave up the game-tying run in the eighth, leaving Schappert with a no-decision.

Schappert returns to Daytona where he picked up 20 saves one season ago. He began the year in Triple-A Iowa where he recorded a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 innings, but struggled after being sent down to Double-A, going 3-7 with a 7.51 ERA in 76 2/3 innings.

Schappert stumbled out of the gate Sunday, giving up back-to-back home runs to Tolleson and Dustin Martin and an RBI triple to Eddie Ovalle. But he settled down after that, allowing just two hits in his next four innings.

With two consecutive games going into extra innings, the Cubs must conserve pitching. Adalberto Mendez returns to the mound for Daytona today.

"We'll be a little thin, but we have three guys," Davis said.

Adalberto was sent down from Double-A earlier in the week, but posted an impressive 2.14 ERA in 59 innings for Daytona last season.

Alfred Joseph broke out going 4-for-6 with four singles. Alfred was hitless in his first 11 at-bats with the Cubs coming into the game.