Stars prevail in low-scoring battle with Barons

By Aaron Morse

Drew Anderson, the franchise’s all-time leader in doubles, doubled home the eventual winning run in the top of the eighth inning as the Huntsville Stars (29-26, 62-3) edged the Birmingham Barons (22-33, 46-79) by a final score of 2-1 Saturday night.

Stars’ starter Chris Cody struck-out the first four batters he faced. Meanwhile the offense gave him some support in the top of the third. With one down, Anderson De La Rosa singled off opposing pitcher Charles Leesman. Lee Haydel was hit by a pitch and with two away Zelous Wheeler came up big with a single to right that scored De La Rosa to put Huntsville up 1-0.

The Barons knotted things at one thanks to a Cole Armstrong solo homer in the fifth.

The seventh inning was key for the Stars as Birmingham loaded the bases with only one away against Cody. Mike Guerrero called upon Eddie Morlan, who got a line-out and a fly-out to get out of the jam. Cody ended up going 6.1 innings, giving up only three hits and one run on the home run; he walked one and struck-out eight in the no-decision.

Huntsville rewarded Morlan for getting out of the jam in the seventh with the go-ahead run in the eighth. With one out, Wheeler tripled to right. That’s when Anderson doubled him home to give the Stars the 2-1 lead.

Morlan (3-2) tossed another scoreless frame and Robert Hinton pitched the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year.

Despite the win, the Stars actually lost ½ a game on the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx who swept their double header Friday. So Huntsville is now three games back in the Wild Card race.

They will attempt to win the finale Sunday night. Wily Peralta is the scheduled starter. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. central time on the Stars Radio Network.