Stars miss multiple opportunities in game two loss

By Aaron Morse

The Huntsville Stars (26-24, 59-61) gave up four runs with two outs, Alex Liddi hit a home run over the scoreboard, and the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (24-26, 63-56) prevailed 6-2 in game two of Sunday’s double header.

The two-out trouble started in the very first inning. With two away, Huntsville starter Andre Lamontagne (3-2) gave up a line drive single to Liddi up the middle. A wild pitch moved him to second and Lamontagne walked Johan Limonta. He got a little unlucky when Scott Savastano’s weak chopper bounced over the mound for an infield single to load the bases. That’s when Carlos Peguero provided the two-out lightning with a two-RBI double to left.

Huntsville got two on with only one away in the bottom half of the frame, but West Tenn starter Cesar Jimenez worked out of the jam.

That’d be the theme of game two as the Stars got a one-out walk in the second and were unable to score as well.

Meanwhile, Liddi cranked a mammoth homer over the left-center field scoreboard to extend the West Tenn lead to 3-0 in the third.

Jimenez hit Caleb Gindl with a pitch in the bottom of the frame, and this being his first start after rehabbing in Arizona, that signaled the end of the southpaw’s day. Robert Rohrbaugh (4-2) came on in relief and was greeted by a sharp Lawrie liner to left. Unfortunately the hard hit ball was right at Peguero for out number one. Then, with Zelous Wheeler at the plate, Gindl inexplicably tried to steal second in a three-run game and was promptly picked off by the lefty Rohrbaugh. Wheeler proceeded to strike out and that was that.

The fourth inning proved to be more two-out trouble for the Stars. Brandon Bantz led-off with a double to deep left. One out later Joe Dunigan drew a walk. Stars’ manager Mike Guerrero opted to bring in Nick Green at that point. Green blew three heaters past Nate Tenbrink for the second out of the frame. But Liddi struck again, this time with a double down the right field line. On the play Bantz scored, but the Diamond Jaxx tried to hold Dunigan at third. A base-running mistake by Liddi, who was not looking at the fact Dunigan had been held up at third, forced Dunigan to head home. The Stars had him dead for rights, but Lawrie’s throw sailed over everyone’s head, scoring another run and giving West Tenn a 5-0 advantage.

Huntsville finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Drew Anderson singled to left to get things started. One out later, Taylor Green hit into a force out and two were away. Luckily Andy Machado came up big with a double, driving in Green and cutting the score to 5-1.

The Stars left a man in scoring position in the fifth and loaded the bases in the sixth. Singles by Green, Machado, and Caufield put runners on every base with two away. Unfortunately, manager Mike Guerrero opted not to pinch hit with Lee Haydel. Instead he allowed the sub-.100 hitting Arlis to bat for himself. He grounded out to third and the threat was neutralized.

Johan Limonta tacked on another run in the top half of the seventh with a homer that snuck over the right field fence by mere inches.

Caleb Gindl started the seventh with an infield single. One out later Wheeler worked a great AB and doubled home Gindl to the cut the score to 6-2. But that’d be it for Huntsville as they dropped game two of the twin bill.

Huntsville left nine men on base and they only managed a 3-11 clip with runners in scoring position. They out-hit West Tenn 9-8 to no avail. Wheeler and Machado both tallied multi-hit games.

With the loss the Stars are 4.5 games back of the Diamond Jaxx in the Wild Card Race. They play the finale of the five game set Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. central time. Tune in to www.huntsvillestars.com beginning at 12:45 for the Window World Pre-Game Report.