The Cubs, who had dropped a 2-1 decision in the first game of a doubleheader, smashed open a 1-1 pitcher's duel in the bottom of the sixth in the second game to salvage a split in Florida State League action.

By sticking eight hits with a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly, Daytona erupted for nine runs in the sixth for a 10-1 conquest of the Manatees. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Cubs while halting a four-game win streak for Brevard County.

"Our team really came together in the sixth," Daytona manager Richie Zisk said. "We put together some success that we hadn't had all night up to that point, then we seemed to wake up when Brevard's pitcher (reliever Jeremy Lewis) hit (Carlos) Rojas with a pitch in the middle of the inning."

When the sixth-inning smoke had all cleared, Lewis had been ejected, the two benches had cleared for a verbal-only confrontation near the mound, and first baseman Kevin Collins, leftfielder Paul O'Toole and centerfielder Chris Walker had each driven home two runs.

"That was certainly a big inning and a big win for us," Zisk said. "They had beaten us three straight."

Second baseman Robinson Chirinos, third baseman Scott Moore, right fielder J.J. Johnson and catcher Jake Scott also had timely hits to drive home runs for the Cubs.

"It was a big boost for us that Nate Sevier, normally a reliever, got the spot start for us and pitched five shutout innings," said Zisk.

"I can't say enough about his coming through when we really needed it."

Sevier allowed only two hits and faced only 16 batters--one over the minimum.

He did not get the win, however, as Manatee rightfielder Travis Ezi lined a two-out solo homer in the top of the sixth off eventual winning pitcher Jordan Gerk to even the score at 1-1.

Then came the fireworks in the Daytona sixth.

The Cubs had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Second baseman Robinson Chirinos walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. One out later, he scored when doubled, etching his team-leading 35th RBI.

In the first game, Brevard's C.J. Medlin pulverized a first-inning fastball from Daytona Cubs pitcher Sean Marshall, sending the Manatees to a 2-0 advantage.

It was his fourth of the season and plated Steve Moss, who had been issued a two-out walk.

"The pitch was a little up--probably a little higher than the pitcher wanted it," Medlin described. "I got it good, but I didn't know I had hit it well enough to go out until I saw the outfielders watching it go over the fence."

With Brevard starter Josh Habel's effective mound work, the guests didn't need any other offense.

Habel retired 17 of the 22 Cubs he faced in 5 2/3 innings, grabbing his first win of the season. The only chink in his Saturday armor was Walker's solo homer down the left-field line with two out in the third inning.

The Cubs open a crucial three-game series at Vero Beach at 1 p.m. today at Holman Stadium. Daytona is four games behind the Dodgers, with the first-half title still available, with 12 games remaining.