Stars slammed by Barons

By Aaron Morse

Sometimes one swing of the bat can be the difference in a game.

That was certainly the case Saturday night as Salvador Sanchez’s grand slam home run was the reason the Huntsville Stars (33-36) lost to the Birmingham Barons (17-31) by a final score of 4-2.

Early on, it was the Stars who looked to be in control.

With one away in the first, Lee Haydel found a hole on the right side for a single. Brett Lawrie grounded out, but on the play Haydel moved into scoring position. After Mat Gamel walked, Zelous Wheeler smoked a single up the gut to drive in Haydel and give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

They’d strike again in the second. Drew Anderson continued to rake as he doubled to start the frame. One out later Martin Maldonado hit a grounder to short and Birmingham’s Robbie Hudson attempted to get Anderson going to third, but the throw hit Anderson in the back and everyone was safe. That’s when Lorenzo Cain came up huge with a base knock to right and the Stars had a nice 2-0 advantage.

But the lead would be short lived. With two outs and a runner on fist, Stars starter Amaury Rivas walked back-to-back hitters. The lack of control came back to burn him when Sanchez unloaded on a pitch for a grand slam to give the Barons a 4-2 edge.

Rivas (5-3) pitched well, going 7 innings, scattering 5 hits, and giving up 4 runs, while walking 3 and striking out 6. But he took the loss due to the one mistake to Sanchez.

The Stars’ offense could get nothing going all night, as their last 10 hitters in the game were retired in order by Barons pitching.

Zelous Wheeler had a good day at the plate, going 3-4 with a RBI. Lorenzo Cain also had a multi-hit game, as he was 2-5 with a RBI.

Jhonny Nunez (1-4) earned his first win of the year, going 5 innings scattering 6 hits, while giving up 2 runs, only 1 of which was earned.

Anthony Carter pitched the ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the year.

With the loss, the Stars lose the series and fall to six games back of the Tennessee Smokies in the North Division.

The finale of the five-game set is Sunday afternoon. Tune to www.huntsvillestars.com starting at 12:45 pm central time for all the action. Alex Periard (2-3, 4.18 ERA) will be on the mound for the Stars.