Cubs Split Saturday Firecracker Tournament Games

MARINETTE, Wis.-- The Escanaba Cubs split their two Saturday games at the 2015 Firecracker tournament. The Cubs beat the Green Bay Blue Jays 10-0 in six innings behind a strong pitching performance by Alec Slaga. But, the momentum didn't carry into the second game as they dropped the night game to Watertown 9-2.

In the first game, the Escanaba Cubs took advantage of very wild pitching from the Blue Jays starting pitcher Brett Macikalski.

The Cubs scored four runs off of five walks and two hit batters without having to record a hit in the first. And that was all Alec Slaga needed as he pitched a beauty.

After pitching four innings against Menominee on Wednesday, Slaga pitched a shutout in six innings, while giving up five hits and striking out seven while walking only one.

An error by the Green Bay third basemen Logan DeGroot allowed Skufca to reach base and after a hit batsman and back to back walks to Bailey and Logan Lamb the Cubs added a run to their lead. Right fielder Lewis Ostrander and center fielder Tyler Hardwick reached base in the third, and shortstop Tyler Skufca knocked them both in with a single to left center in the third.

Tyler Skufca drives home two vs Green Bay

Ostrander led off the fifth inning with a double to left field, and advanced to third on the throw. Hardwick followed him in the fifth with an RBI single to left center.

The Cubs scored the final two runs to put the ten run mercy rule into effect in the sixth.

Left fielder Jack Valentine led off the inning with a double, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bailey Lamb was hit by a pitch, and then stole second during catcher C.J Barron's at bat. Barron scored Valentine from third with a sac fly and Ostrander followed him with an RBI single scoring Lamb from second.

Mecikalski takes the loss on the mound for the Blue Jays, pitching one and two thirds innings giving up five runs (four earned) on no hits while walking seven batters and striking out two.

Riley Rehberg pitched the final four innings in relief.

Alec Slaga gets the win on the mound for the Cubs.

So after a five hour wait in between games the Cubs played Watertown Post 146 in the night game.

There were plenty of opportunities for the Cubs but untimely hitting and costly errors hurt the Cubs in the 9-2 loss. Watertown scored two runs in the first and second innings as three of those runs were unearned.

Second baseman Keegan Lang led off the game with a double and scored on Cameron Schuett's RBI single. Right fielder Noah Zubke hit into a fielder's choice, and got all the way to third on an error by the Cubs right fielder Lewis Ostrander.

CJ Barron double vs Watertwown

He later scored on a wild pitch.

In the second inning, catcher Logan Richart walked and starting pitcher Jared Nickels singled with one out to set up runners on first and second. After a sacrifice bunt by Lang, Schuett hit a ground ball to shortstop Brandon Punzel whose throw was too low and got by Bailey Lamb at first allowing both runners to score for Watertown.

The Cubs battled back with two outs in the bottom of the inning after three singles loaded the bases. But Watertown shortstop Kyle Lee made a terrific play on Ostrander's ground ball in the hole between short and third to get the force out at second base.

Watertown added to their lead in the fifth as Schuett led off the inning with a walk.

He advanced to second on a fielder's choice and then scored on a two out RBI single by the third basemen Micheal Hoishberger.

In the sixth Watertown scored two more runs off Skufca with an RBI groundout by Schuett and an RBI single by Zubke.

In the bottom of the inning Escanaba had a chance to make it a game going into the seventh with a bases loaded situation with nobody out.

But C.J Barron struck out and Logan Lamb grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the threat. Lewis Ostrander came onto the mound for the Cubs in the seventh, and Watertown scored two runs to make their lead 9-0.

Once again the Cubs loaded the bases with one out and scored two runs off of relief pitcher Kyle Lee. Bailey Lamb doubled to lead off the inning, and Ostrander followed him by taking one off the top of his helmet.

Parker Lamarch then walked setting up the bases loaded situation for Punzel. He hit a two RBI single to make the score 9-2 but it was too little too late for the Cubs.

Jared Nickels gets the win on the mound for Watertown, going four innings giving up no runs on five hits while striking out one and walking one. Kyle Lee pitched three innings in relief.

Tyler Skufca takes the loss on the mound, throwing six innings giving up seven runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out one and walking four.

Ostrander pitched an inning in relief.

The Cubs next game is Sunday afternoon at 11:45 Eastern Time against the Manitowac Legion. You can listen to the broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600) or on www.rrnsports.com.

Saturday's Firecracker Tournament Scores
Manitowoc 9, Ishpeming 0
Escanaba 10, Green Bay 0
Marinette 5, Marquette 3
Watertown 13, Menominee 0

Green Bay 4, Ishpeming 3
Marquette 6, Manitowoc 2
Watertown 9, Escanaba 2
Marinette 13, Menominee 0

Sunday's Firecracker Tournament Schedule
Green Bay vs Menominee, 11 ET/10 CT
Escanaba vs Manitowoc, 11:30 ET/10:30 CT
Watertown vs Marquette, 1:30 ET/12:30 CT
Marinette vs Ishpeming, 2:00 ET/1:00 CT

Click the above thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box for photos and videos from today's tournament games.