Cubs
Rally To Sweep Twins, Win 1st Senior Circuit Title
February 6, 2013 (Federal League Wire Service)
The Broward Cubs overcame two big deficits and rallied for a 10-9
win over the Hallandale Twins in Game 3 of of the Original
Division's Championship Final Series. The win allowed the Bruins
to sweep the series and claim their first Original Division crown.
A three run rally in the eighth by the Cubs tied the score, and, a
five run outburst in the ninth propelled the Cubs to victory. The
Cubs entered the eighth trailing 5-2, and then fell behind 9-5
going into the ninth.
Justin Jordan started for the Cubs against Ryan Arnold for the
Twins, but neither pitcher factored in the decision. Jordan
pitched seven innings and permitted five runs on 10 hits. Arnold
was ejected in the sixth inning after committing a balk and
arguing the call. Arnold was working on a one hitter at the time
of his ejection, having struck out nine. Ryan O' Donnell took the
loss in relief.
The Twins took an early 1-0 lead on John Spellman's RBI
single in the bottom of the first. The Cubs tied the score in the
fourth on an RBI single by Jamie Bobrow.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Twins poured across three runs to
take a 4-1 lead. One run scored on a wild pitch, and Spellman
drove in two with a single. The teams traded runs in the seventh,
so the Twins headed into the final two innings with a 5-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, RBI singles by Michael Nieto and Bryan
Moriera helped the Cubs tie the score at 5-5, but in the bottom of
the eighth, The Twins got run producing hits from Ricardo Zanabria
and Matt Rogers and opened a 9-5 advantage.
However, the Cubs refused to fold. Five runs, three coming on wild
pitches, put the Cubs in front at 10-9. Mickey Tanyi, Adrian
Bautista, and Rodnel Bello all had key hits in the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs turned to right handed ace
Chad Volbert to close out the game. However, Spellman led off the
inning and greeted Volbert with a long double to left center.
Volbert bore down and struck out Kenny Sanchez, retired Angel
Rosendo on a fly ball to right, and then fanned Chris Craig to end
the game and the series.
Francis Lopez, who pitched one inning of relief for the Cubs,
wound up as the winning pitcher. Volbert, who was named the the
Original Division's Playoff MVP by the editors of South
Florida Baseball Report, earned a save.
After the game, as the Cubs celebrated their newly won crown,
player/manager Adrian Bautista smiled broadly as he accepted the
congratulations of league officials. Bautista's effusive optimism
and saintly patience in guiding the Cubs had finally paid off with
the ultimate dividend.
Game 2-Cubs Edge Twins: The
Broward Cubs took a commanding two games to none lead in the
Original Division's Championship Final Series as they took Game 2
of the best of five series with a 4-3 win over the Hallandale
Twins.
Chad Volbert overcame a rocky first inning to pitch a complete
game five hitter for the Cubbies. Volbert permitted five singles,
walked none, hit one, and struck out five.
Seth Marcus started for the Twins and pitched six innings. Marcus
was charged with three runs on three hits. All three hits
occurred, consecutively, in the Cubs' three run third inning.
Marcus walked one, hit one, and struck out 11. Alex Marzano
allowed one run on three hits in the seventh inning and took the
loss.
The Twins took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first as
Matt Rogers led off with a single and went to third on a one out
single by Fred Poland. When Poland was erased trying to steal
second, Rogers scored the Twins' first run. Later in the inning,
Ryan Arnold produced an RBI single.
In the third, the Cubs took a 3-2 lead. Mickey Tanyi drew a one
out walk, and Adrian Bautista, Rodnel Bello, and Luis Rodriguez
delivered consecutive singles.
The Twins tied the score in the top of the fourth as Arnold was
hit by a pitch and later scored on a throwing error.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh. With
Marzano on in relief of Marcus, Tanyi and pinch hitter Francis
Lopez connected for back to back singles. Bautista walked to load
the bases, but Tanyi was erased at the plate as Bello hit into a
force play. Rodriguez then delivered with a two out RBI single
that gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
Volbert, who retired the last 11 batters he faced, set down the
Twins in order in both the eighth and ninth to preserve the win.
Holding a two games to none lead, the Cubs will look to
clinch their first ever Original Division championship, while the
Twins will hope to extend the series at least one more game, as
the series continues with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday
night.
Game 1-Cubs Rout Twins In Series Opener: The
Original Division's Championship Final Series opened Thursday
night and the Broward Cubs took Game 1 of the best of five
series with a 9-2 win over the Hallandale Twins.
Graham White, the lefthanded ace of the Cubs, tossed a complete
game four hitter, throttling the Twins' lineup. White walked one,
hit a batter, and struck out 14.
Ryan O' Donnell started for the Twins and took the loss after
permitting two runs on four hits in four innings.
The Cubs held
a 2-1 lead when Justin Jordan crashed a two run home run in the
top of the sixth off of Twin's reliever Fred Poland to give the
Bruins some cushion.
Ricky Quintero, Luis Rodriguez, and Jamie Bobrow led the Cubs with
two hits each. None of the Twins' batters were able to put
together a multi-hit game.
The Twins received some devastating news prior to the game when
they learned that Cory Stern, the ace of their pitching staff,
would likely miss the series after injuring his shoulder during
his off day workout. The extent of Stern's injury has yet to be
determined, but sources are claiming the the righty tore his
labrum.
With Stern unavailable, the Twins are uncertain as to how
they will arrange their pitching rotation for the rest of the
series. The Cubs are slated to start righthander Chad Volbert when
the series continues. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday.
