Stars Outlast Smokies

Connor Shreve

A rain delay which pushed back the start of Sundays game an hour and twenty minutes was not enough to slow the offense in an 8-6 victory for Huntsville (26-31). The Stars proved resilient in weathering a late surge from the Smokies (34-22) to snap a season long losing streak at four games. Neither Huntsville nor the opposition took much time in scoring right out of the gate.

In the Stars first, Lorenzo Cain made it aboard with a single before swiping second base for his team leading 13th stolen base of the year. Caleb Gindle brought in Cain and picked up a double on a misplayed ball in left field. Ty Wright initially broke in on the ball before making an ill fated attempt to retreat as it bounced over his head and rolled all the way to the wall. Huntsville lost the lead in the bottom of the first as Wright and Blake Lalli singled with two outs, which set up a two RBI triple off the bat of Matt Spencer.

Cain again took center stage in the second inning when Huntsville scored three runs to retake the lead. Anderson Machado started the frame by doubling on a deep fly to center. Huntsville’s newest Star Dayton Buller smacked a single before Brett Lawrie doubled both runners home. Cain proceeded to mark the inning with a run scoring triple before the second came to a close.

Buller, whose contract was purchased from Camden (NJ) of the independent Atlantic League on June fifth, added a three run home run in the third inning.

Though Tennessee trailed by five runs after three innings, the Smokies continually ate away at the Stars lead with two unanswered runs in the fourth and two in the seventh. The first run across in the seventh came before Stars starter Michael Bowman (5-4 5.54)departed and reliever Eduardo Morlan inherited a runner on third that scored thanks to Marwin Gonzales’ sacrifice fly.

Bowman was charged with both of the seventh inning runs; all six against him were earned. He worked one out in to the seventh, allowed eight hits, struck out five, walked one and departed after having thrown 92 pitches. Huntsville closer Brandon Kintzler entered in the eighth and pitched to five batters in the extended save. Kintzler’s ten saves is the third best in the Southern League.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx (4-2 2.85) struggled throughout his three innings on the mound. The Stars scored six earned runs and seven in total over the first three innings. His outing was nothing like the last time he faced Huntsville. On May 15 at Joe Davis Stadium Bibens-Dirkx picked up his first win going six innings and allowing only one unearned run in an 8-2 Tennessee victory. On Sunday though, his control was absent and he walked three Stars batters and struck out only one.

Game three of Huntsville’s current North Division road trip is Monday night at Smokies Park in Kodak, TN. First pitch for all three remaining games against the Smokies is 6:15 pm (CDT). Monday's contest will be broadcast online at www.huntsvillestars.com.