Special to the Daily Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

DAYTONA BEACH — The Daytona Cubs took advantage of a short porch in left field and several extra opportunities granted by the Fort Myers Miracle en route to a 7-3 win Tuesday night to clinch the Florida State League Championship.

Daytona used three two-out runs in the second inning and a pair of short home runs to left to open an early lead and never looked back.

The Cubs, who were 38-24 in the second half to win the Eastern Division pennant, took the best-of-five series with the Miracle 3-1.

Johnny Woodard got the Miracle going in the top of the second, depositing a first-pitch fastball from Cubs starter Marcos Mateo over the wall in right for a solo homer and a 1-0 Miracle lead. That lead turned out to be the only bright spot for the Miracle.

Daytona started their three-run, rally in the second with a lazy fly ball by Yusef Carter that carried over the short porch in to tie the game 1-1.

Jonathan Mota singled to center and raced home on Darwin Barney’s ground ball down the left-field line. Tony Thomas capped the two-out rally with a single to center, scoring Barney for a 3-1 lead.

After the Cubs padded the lead with a home run by Jim Adduci and a sac-fly in the third, the Miracle got back-to-back doubles from Wilson Ramos and Whit Robbins in the fourth and a sac-fly from Garrett Olson to pull within 5-3.

As they did all postseason long, the Cubs responded with a couple more runs in the sixth to seal the victory.