2020 35+ Mountain

South Florida Cubs 5, Central Florida 1

‘Rivera and Diaz Combine to Shut Down Central Florida’

Submitted by Raul Rivera, Cubs manager

Our final game against Central Florida was amazing.  The game was a pitching duel from the beginning.  Josh Rivera opened for the South Florida Cubs and pitched six innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven.  In the top of the seventh inning Josh got in trouble allowing a single followed by a double.  With runners on second and third and no outs, I brought in Ronald Diaz in relief.  Ronald managed to get out of the inning without allowing a run! 

In the top of the ninth, with the game still tied 1-1, the SFL Cubs were able to get the bases loaded with one out.  SFL Cubs’ batter, Javier Garcia, a true power hitter, came up to hit in a true clutch moment.  To the surprised of all, I decided to pull a trick out of my sleeve called for a safety squeeze! 

On the first pitch, Javier put a perfect bunt down the first base line that caught everyone by surprise allowing the go ahead run to score and Javier made it to first base without a throw.  The Cubs managed to score one run on a wild pitch and two more with a 2-out, 2-RBI single by Hector Mujica JR to give the Cubs a 5-1 lead.  Ronald Diaz finished the job on the mount by catching a fly ball to end the game in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third.  

The Cubs’ MVP was Jose “Bino” Garcia, who recorded 13 hits in seven games with one home run, two doubles and eight RBIs.