Stars’ offense explodes as they romp Mobile

By Aaron Morse

The Huntsville Stars (25-27) used a 10-run second inning to propel themselves to an 11-2 victory over the Mobile BayBears (25-25) Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

It was actually Mobile taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a lead-off home run off the bat of Collin Cowgill. One out later, starting pitcher Michael Bowman was hit in the shin by a line drive and had to be removed from the game. On came Donovan Hand (2-1), who would toss 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball to get the win.

BayBears starter Bryan Shaw (1-5) gave no indication he’d struggle as he sent the Stars down 1-2-3 in their half of the first. Zelous Wheeler drew a lead-off walk and Drew Anderson got the first hit of the game by singling to left. Taylor Green, starting at second base to give Brett Lawrie a rare night off, walked to load the bases. Lee Haydel singled home two and Sean McCraw, getting a rare start, singled home Green to make the score 3-0.

But they were only getting started. Donovan Hand helped out his own cause with a ringing double to center that plated Haydel and McCraw. After Lorenzo Cain walked, Caleb Gindl joined the hitting party with a single to left to drive home Hand. Mat Gamel, the ninth man to come to the plate, singled to re-load the bases.

That would mercifully signal the end of the day for Shaw as the BayBears brought in Bryan Henry from the bullpen. He would get the first out of the inning when Wheeler grounded out, but Cain scored on the play and the Stars had a 7-0 lead. After Anderson lined out, Green hit his second homer in as many days as he blasted a three-run shot over the right field fence.

When the dust cleared it was 10-1 Stars. They would tack on one more in the bottom of the sixth on a Caleb Gindl solo shot. Meanwhile, the BayBears got one back off reliever Eddie Morlan in the seventh thanks to a solo homer off the bat of Cyle Hankerd.

Everyone in the Stars’ starting lineup tallied a hit and scored in a run in the game. Green’s three RBI gives him nine over the past two days. Gindl, Gamel, Anderson, and McCraw all tallied multi-hit games.

The Diamond Jaxx and the Smokies also won Tuesday night so the Stars remain 5.5 games back in the north division.

They’ll send Daniel Merklinger (2-1, 4.56 ERA in Brevard County) to the mound Wednesday for his Double-A debut. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time.