DAYTONA BATS QUIETED IN 4-1 LOSS                                   
The Cubs Went 0-for-12 With Runners In Scoring Position and Couldn’t Get the Offense Out of First Gear All Night Long
May 25, 2005 - 2:20 AM
by: Bo Fulginiti

DUNEDIN, Fla—There’s a reason why the Dunedin Blue Jays are 28-18, and it’s not just because of their Florida State League leading offense.

The Jays have also been rumored to have a pretty good pitching staff these days, and on Tuesday night at Knology Park the Daytona Cubs got a little taste of why the rumors may be true.

Dunedin sent right-hander Casey Janssen (2-0) to the bump, and the young hurler threw six stellar innings as he surrendered just one earned run and struck out nine Cubs batters to record his second win and hand Daytona the Game 2 loss by a final score of 4-1.

The Daytona lumber was unusually silent for most of the evening, as designated hitter Kevin Collins and right fielder J.J. Johnson were the only Cubs batters to record two hits. Collins (pictured above) eventually scored the Cubs lone run in the second inning following an RBI double from Johnson, and that was the only noise that Daytona would make on the scoreboard as the Cubs went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position the rest of the way.

Daytona lefty Sean Marshall (3-2) made the start for the Cubs, and the standout prospect was charged with the loss despite another solid performance where he surrendered three earned runs in six innings of work while fanning seven Blue Jays batters.

Cubs reliever Adalberto Mendez also put a damper on the ballgame as he gave up a seventh inning solo homerun to Jays second baseman Carlo Cota, to end the bullpen’s scoreless innings streak at 12.1.

With the loss Daytona dropped to 24-19, but the Cubs managed to remain 1.5 games behind the Vero Beach Dodgers in the East as Vero was later stomped Tuesday night by Fort Myers at Holman Stadium by a final of 15-3.

The Cubs will try to rebound in Game 3 as they send young righty Billy Petrick (1-4, 5.91) to the hill to face Dunedin southpaw David Purcey (3-2, 3.57). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.