Miracle pummel Cubs

By SEAN KERNAN
Daytona News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH -- The dog days of summer are here for the Daytona Cubs.

And judging from the way the team is playing, it looks like the heat is getting to them.

The Cubs dropped their third straight to the Fort Myers Miracle in an 8-1 loss Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

With the playoffs out of reach and a roster that's short two players, the Cubs just have to play for pride in these closing weeks of the season.

Tuesday night the Cubs put up four errors and scored only one run. Could it be that with the season winding down that players aren't as motivated as they were earlier in the season?

"You hope that's not the case," said Cubs manager Jody Davis. "We're so thin player-wise there's no competition to play. They know this is what we got. They have to go out there. But if that's the way they're going to play, they probably should be looking for something else to do.

"It ought to be pretty much the exact opposite, because there's a pretty good bunch (of players) below us and a pretty good bunch above us. This would be the time to fight for some attention."

There was little fight in the Cubs after the Miracle broke a one-run tie with a three-run sixth inning. Joel Santo (8-6), who had matched Miracle starter Jay Rainville (6-10) through five innings, gave up three runs on two hits, and failed to cover home on a wild pitch that yielded one of those runs.

Fort Myers' Erik Lis hit a home run off the right-field foul pole in the fourth inning. It was Lis' third home run in two games against the Cubs.

Daytona trailed 4-1 when Fort Myers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Reliever Charles Platt fielded a comebacker that should have been an easy double play, but misfired the throw over catcher Jack Muyco to allow two runs to score. Two more runs came across on Dwayne White's single.

The Cubs scored their lone run in the first when leadoff batter Jeff Rea began a 3-for-4 night with a single and Steve Clevenger doubled him home.