The Daytona Cubs pounded out 16 runs and 17 hits to defeat the Fort Myers Miracle 16-7 Friday night at Hammond Stadium.
The Miracle scored first on Oswaldo Arcia's RBI single in the first inning, but it was all Cubs after that. Daytona plated six runs in the second off Miracle starter Marty Popham and eight more in the fifth to take a commanding 14-2 lead.
The Cubs did most of their damage with a steady stream of RBI singles, but got two big hits from Roni Torreyes and Micah Gibbs. Torreyes smashed a two-run double in the second to make it 3-1 and Gibbs launched a towering three-run homer to left in the fifth to give the Cubs a 10-run lead, 12-2.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA
Miracle second baseman Jairo Perez (2) throws late to first base on a ball hit by Daytona’s Rubi Silva. Perez got Silva out a few moments later when he and shortstop Levi Michael and first baseman Lance Ray turned an inning-ending double play Friday night at Hammond Stadium.
Torreyes went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI for the Cubs. Greg Rohan and Rubi Silva each collected three hits for Daytona.
The Miracle tried to rally with a four-run seventh inning. Josmil Pinto came up with a two-out, two-run single to make it 15-7. However, the Miracle could not come up with any more runs.
Pinto also added a solo home run to finish 2-for-4 with three RBI. Daniel Ortiz went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI in the loss.
Popham (3-2) gave up 10 runs, nine earned, in 4 1/3 innings. He gave up 10 hits and struck out two.
Jose Gonzalez allowed five runs, two earned, in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Dakota Watts pitched the final 2 2/3. His only mistake was giving up a solo home run to Nelson Perez in the ninth.
The Miracle (21-32) and Cubs (22-30) continue their four-game series at Hammond Stadium at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.
