Pitchers Duel Tilts Toward Stars

Connor Shreve

The Hunstville Stars (29-33) won a second consecutive road game Friday night 2-1 over the Carolina Mudcats (25-36) in Zebulon. Huntsville has used strong first innings in both victories so far against North Division rival Carolina this season.

Brett Lawrie needed no time to get comfortable against Matt Klinker. On the first pitch of the game Lawrie launched his fifth home run this season to left center field but Huntsville could not take advantage of the base runners that followed him. Caleb Gindle, Zelous Wheeler and Taylor Green all reached with one out but Steffan Wilson flew out and Lee Haydel was retired on strikes to end the inning.

A Steffan Wilson home run in the fourth added to the Stars run total and was the winning hit.

After leaving seven runners on base in game one, Huntsville took a game two win on Friday despite continuing the trend with six runners left on base.

If the LOB stat is an area of concern for the Stars, it’s something that likely feels more like a lasting illness for those in the Mudcats dugout. Carolina left seven runners on base but was the victim of impressive Huntsville defense. Though the hurlers took center stage, Caleb Gindl managed to steal some glory by flashing the leather in the sixth. With a sinking liner off the bat off Dave Sappelt threatening to give the Mudcats their best scoring chance, Gindl made a diving catch running towards the infield on the foul line to retire the Carolina center fielder. Two groundouts ensued to end the inning.

A pitcher’s duel followed the first inning with Huntsville’s Michael Bowman (6-4 5.03) throwing arguably his best game in the 2010 campaign. His biggest spot of trouble came in the seventh; It was the second time in the game Bowman faced a Carolina runner on third with nobody out. Only this time Carolina only trailed by one run after Daniel Yarbrough singled and was brought home thanks to a Denis Phipps triple, his second this year. But the bottom of the lineup could not get a good look at any of Bowman’s next and final pitches. A pop foul, strikeout and groundout ended the threat and preserved a one run lead for the Stars bullpen to hold.

Bowman pitched seven innings, his longest outing this season, allowed only one run and struck out two on six hits. His six wins leads the team. Huntsville is undefeated over Bowman’s last four starts.

First pitch in game three is scheduled for 5:15 (CDT) at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC followed by a matinee 1 p.m. start Sunday. Huntsville would guarantee a series victory with a win Saturday. Game three can be heard on the Huntsville Stars Radio Network (AM 1450/FM 92.9 WTKI, Huntsville) and online at www.huntsvillestars.com.