Cubs fall, Dopirak designated

By SEAN KERNAN
Daytona News Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- Fort Myers had its big bopper, Erik Lis, in the lineup Monday night, but the Daytona Cubs were without their top slugger, Brian Dopirak.

The difference showed up in the final score, an 8-5 Miracle victory at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, as Lis homered twice in a 5-for-5, five RBI effort that boosted his team lead to 11 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Dopirak was not able to play because the Chicago Cubs removed him from the 40-man roster, designating him for assignment, and opening up the possibility that another organization willing to put him on its 40-man roster could select him off the waiver wire. The 23-year-old slugger had been climbing up the Florida State League's home run charts with 15 dingers and 50 RBIs, leading the Cubs in both categories. He was batting .272 in 254 at-bats.

Chicago had to take someone off its 40-man roster because it promoted Eric Patters on from Triple-A Iowa to fill in for injured Alfonso Soriano.

"It definitely creates a hole," said Cubs manager Jody Davis.

Dopirak had not heard anything as of Monday night, and according to multiple sources he has to be on the waiver wire for 48 hours. If he clears waivers, meaning no team claims him, then the Cubs can reassign him.

The Cubs (50-63 overall, 18-26 in second half) had 10 hits, led by Matt Matulia's 3-for-5 effort with two RBIs. Matulia hit his sixth triple of the year and also doubled. Ryan Harvey had two hits, including a sixth-inning solo bomb into the batter's eye beyond center field that tied it at 3.

The second two-run homer by Lis put the Miracle (52-63, 22-23) ahead 5-4 in the seventh inning. Fort Myers added three unearned runs in the ninth after shortstop Jonathan Mota overthrew first base to allow leadoff batter Toby Gardenhire to reach base.

"We kind of hung around there, hung around there and then the wheels came off," Davis said. "That (error) started it all. (Mota) had plenty of time, didn't have to rush it. But we had our chances at the plate, too."

OF NOTE

Former Daytona Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija needed just one start at Double-A to get his first win for the Tennessee Smokies. Samardzija scattered six hits over six innings and allowed one run while walking two and striking out two in the 6-2 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits Monday night.