Stars' rally falls short

The Huntsville Stars (5-7, 38-44) scored four runs in the seventh inning to draw within one, but left the tying run in scoring position in the ninth as they dropped the series finale to the Chattanooga Lookouts (8-4, 42-40) by a final score of 7-6.
The Lookouts got to Michael Bowman in the second inning as Corey Smith led-off with a double; two outs later Jaime Pedroza singled him home.
But the Stars bounced back in the bottom of the frame thanks to an unexpected power source. Drew Anderson picked up where he left off on Friday with a single up the middle. Two outs later, Andy Machado crushed a ball over the left field fence for his first homer of the year.
The 2-1 lead held up for Michael Bowman (7-7) until the top of the sixth. Trayvon Robinson tied things up with a homer to left but the Lookouts didn’t stop there. One out later Corey Smith reached base on an excuse-me single to shallow right field. Andrew Lambo followed with a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Eddie Perez hit a grounder to Stefan Wilson at first; Wilson fired home but Smith beat the tag to give the Lookouts a 3-2 lead. Jaime Pedroza chased Bowman from the game with a single to center, making the score 4-2 Lookouts.
Mark Willinsky entered and got the final two outs, but he suffered his own meltdown in the seventh. With one away Robinson got things going again with a single to center. He quickly swiped second base and advanced to third thanks to a low throw into center field from catcher Sean McCraw. Jerry Sands made the play irrelevant by blasting a two-run homer, making the score 6-2 Lookouts. Back-to-back singles from Smith and Lambo were followed by an Eddie Perez RBI double. After Willinsky intentionally walked Jaime Pedroza, Donovan Hand entered the game and coaxed a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The 7-2 deficit seemed imposing, but the Stars rallied in the bottom of the frame. Brent Leach had been dominant all night, but he walked Anderson to lead-off the inning. Wilson walked as well and a Lee Haydel bunt moved both runners over 90 feet. Machado struck out and Leach looked like he was going to get out of the inning with no damage.
Sean McCraw had different plans. He doubled to deep right-center, scoring both runners to make the score 7-4. Justin Miller entered the game and immediately gave up a RBI single to pinch hitter Taylor Green. The throw to the plate got away from catcher Jessie Mier or else McCraw would have been out at home. Green advanced to second and scored when Caleb Gindl singled after Brett Lawrie had walked.
That made the score 7-6 and chased Miller from the game.
But the Stars couldn’t put another run across. In the ninth, Machado singled to lead-off the inning and McCraw bunted him to second. Unfortunately Taylor Green struck out and Lawrie popped out on a 3-0 pitch to end the game.