However, Thursday night the two all-star hurlers faced each other and Russ came out the victor in a 5-1 win over the Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Russ, a 24-year-old right-hander, improved to 7-1 on the season and got the Hammerheads (33-26) to within a game and a half of FSL East leader Vero Beach (34-24).

Marshall (4-4), a 22-year-old southpaw who entered the game with a 1.83 ERA, lost for the third time in his last four starts. He allowed five runs on nine hits, both season highs, in five-plus innings.

"No comment," Marshall said. "Not a good night."

It wasn't a good night for the Cubs prospect who ranks seventh in the organization, according to Baseball America.

"He didn't have his plus stuff. He struggled getting his breaking ball over the plate, and essentially became a two-pitch pitcher," Cubs manager Richie Zisk said. "It's tough to win at advanced A when you do that."

Russ and Marshall are slated to be teammates next week on June 18 as members of the East Division All-Stars. The midseason classic will be played at Clearwater's Bright House Networks Field.

The Cubs (28-29) had their chances against Russ, but left two runners on base in the second, third and sixth innings. Russ had a 5-1 lead in the sixth, but the Cubs were a home run away from making it a 5-4 game after Scott Moore walked and Matt Creighton singled. But Russ struck out Kevin Collins, Paul O'Toole and Jake Fox in order to end the threat.

The Cubs got their only run of the game off Russ in the second inning after loading the bases. It took a sacrifice fly by Fox to get the run home after back-to-back doubles by Moore and Creighton, and a walk by Kevin Collins.

"We had bases loaded and nobody out in the second inning," Zisk said. "A good club puts a couple or three runs up there. That's been our M.O. all year. We get a chance to do some damage and we don't do it."

Jupiter's Reggie Abercrombie and Kevin Randel each went 3-for-4 to lead the Hammerheads, and Angel Molina had a solo homer.

sean.kernan@news-jrnl.com