06/09/05 - Florida State League (FSL) Daytona Cubs

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla—It’s amazing how quickly an All-Star pitcher can bring a white-hot lineup right back down to earth.

Just a game following the season-high 17-run 21-hit output by the Daytona Cubs offense, the Cubbies bats came to a screeching halt Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Jupiter righty James Russ was an awfully big reason why.

Russ (7-1) tossed six innings of one-run four-hit ball and struck out nine Cubs, as the Hammerheads bounced back to take Game 2 from Daytona by a final of 5-1.

Cubs All-Star southpaw Sean Marshall (4-4) got the nod and struggled as the left-hander gave up a season-high five runs on nine hits in five innings of work before yielding to the bullpen. Daytona relievers Jordan Gerk and Adalberto Mendez then combined for four scoreless innings of work, but they got no offensive support down the stretch as the damage had already been done.

The only bright spot offensively at the plate for the Cubs was returnee Matt Creighton who went 2-for-4 with a double in his first start in Daytona Beach in nearly two years.

With the Jupiter victory James Russ continued his domination over the Cubs this season, as the right-hander has now gone 3-0 in three starts against Daytona and has also recorded an eye-popping 24 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.

The series is now tied 1-1, and Daytona will try to land the final knockout punch in the rubber match of the three-game series at “The Jack” on Friday night. The Cubs will send out new right-hander Lee Gwaltney (0-0) to make his first start of the season, as he squares off against Hammerheads lefty Adam Bostick (2-3, 3.08). First pitch is set for 7:05 EST.