Connor Shreve
The Huntsville Stars guaranteed a series victory over Mississippi with a 5-0 victory Saturday night at "The Joe".
The Stars quickly gave starting pitcher Andre Lamontagne a cushion with two first inning runs. Brett Lawrie and Caleb gindle both picked up hits to start the game. The two men at the top of the order also added a base to their resume by swiping a free bag on the same pitch. Lawrie scored on a deep sac fly by Chris Nowak, which may have easily sailed over the fence had it not been for near hurricane like winds with storms looming. The Stars RBI leader Taylor Green brought home Gindle with a single before the inning came to a close.
Green continued his RBI tear in the third. A two out double in the third baseman's next time up brought home Zelous Wheeler and added to Greens impressive night. The Stars third baseman finished 3-4 with a run and two RBI. The 24 year old Canadian national has now driven in 59 runs heading in to the final full month of the season, good for sixth in the league.
The hometown Stars scored more but the pitching staff didn't need any extra. Lamontagne and Chris Cody combined for a four hit shutout. Lamontagne remains unbeaten with the Stars, moving to 3-0 while Cody seems to be embracing his new spot in the bullpen.
Cody started the sixth in his first appearance since being transferred to the pen on July 28 and threw four innings while notching his first save of the year. Each Huntsville hurler gave up two hits, walked one and struck out three M-Braves batters.
The Stars will play game five of the current ten game road trip Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CDT). A Huntsville win combined with a Tennessee loss in Kodak would bring the Stars to within one game of the first place Smokies.
The game can be heard live on www.huntsvillestars.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Stars Win By One
Connor Shreve
Eddie Morlan closed a one run ballgame with the bases loaded for a 5-4 Huntsville win at Joe Davis Stadium Friday night. The game never gave the perception that it would resemble the pitchers duel of the previous night.
Michael Daniel punched a ball through Huntsville’s infield with one out in the second and was quickly caught trying to steal. Eliminating Daniel saved a run; Donell Linares knocked a single, one of four in the M-Braves half of the frame, and was brought home by the next batter when backstop Shawn McGill crushed his first homer of the year to right field to give Mississippi a two run advantage.
The visitors lead lasted less than fifteen minutes. Chris Nowak started the bottom half of the inning with a single and came around to score courtesy Taylor Green and his eighth bomb of the season. Huntsville used the fifth inning to jettison from the M-Braves.
Anderson De La Rosa and pitcher Amaury Rivas both crossed home in the fifth thanks to sloppy play on the part of Mississippi. De La Rosa doubled and made it to third on Rivas’ bunt, a bunt that was misplayed and allowed all to reach safely. The Braves mistakenly tried to get De La Rosa at third and the close play did not allow a throw to first leaving Rivas safely on the bag. The comedy of errors continued when Eric Duncan could not handle a ball hit off the bat of Brett Lawrie that allowed the Stars infielder to pick up another RBI for bringing home De La Rosa. After a groundout left Mississippi with a chance to escape, Zelous Wheeler punctuated the frame by lining a shot off the leg of M-Braves pitcher Richard Sullivan and scoring Rivas.
Amaury Rivas wasn’t the only Huntsville pitcher to help offensively. Robert Hinton, who came on to finish the sixth, added an insurance run in the same inning with a two out single. The base hit was Hinton’s first of the year.
Rivas (10-5 2.67) departed with one out in the sixth and became the first Stars pitcher to win ten games in 2010. He scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs while walking three and punching out five Mississippi batters on strikes. His win appeared to be in jeopardy in the ninth but Eddie Morlan worked out of the bases loaded jam to preserve the victory. Morlan, the third Stars pitcher of the inning, started Daniel with three balls out of the zone but came roaring back by throwing three straight strikes to bring the contest to a close.
With win number 18 for the second half in the bag and a Carolina loss, the Stars moved in to sole position of second place in the north remaining two games back of Tennessee. Huntsville can guarantee a series victory with a win Saturday as the current set continues at 6:00 p.m. (CDT).
Eddie Morlan closed a one run ballgame with the bases loaded for a 5-4 Huntsville win at Joe Davis Stadium Friday night. The game never gave the perception that it would resemble the pitchers duel of the previous night.
Michael Daniel punched a ball through Huntsville’s infield with one out in the second and was quickly caught trying to steal. Eliminating Daniel saved a run; Donell Linares knocked a single, one of four in the M-Braves half of the frame, and was brought home by the next batter when backstop Shawn McGill crushed his first homer of the year to right field to give Mississippi a two run advantage.
The visitors lead lasted less than fifteen minutes. Chris Nowak started the bottom half of the inning with a single and came around to score courtesy Taylor Green and his eighth bomb of the season. Huntsville used the fifth inning to jettison from the M-Braves.
Anderson De La Rosa and pitcher Amaury Rivas both crossed home in the fifth thanks to sloppy play on the part of Mississippi. De La Rosa doubled and made it to third on Rivas’ bunt, a bunt that was misplayed and allowed all to reach safely. The Braves mistakenly tried to get De La Rosa at third and the close play did not allow a throw to first leaving Rivas safely on the bag. The comedy of errors continued when Eric Duncan could not handle a ball hit off the bat of Brett Lawrie that allowed the Stars infielder to pick up another RBI for bringing home De La Rosa. After a groundout left Mississippi with a chance to escape, Zelous Wheeler punctuated the frame by lining a shot off the leg of M-Braves pitcher Richard Sullivan and scoring Rivas.
Amaury Rivas wasn’t the only Huntsville pitcher to help offensively. Robert Hinton, who came on to finish the sixth, added an insurance run in the same inning with a two out single. The base hit was Hinton’s first of the year.
Rivas (10-5 2.67) departed with one out in the sixth and became the first Stars pitcher to win ten games in 2010. He scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs while walking three and punching out five Mississippi batters on strikes. His win appeared to be in jeopardy in the ninth but Eddie Morlan worked out of the bases loaded jam to preserve the victory. Morlan, the third Stars pitcher of the inning, started Daniel with three balls out of the zone but came roaring back by throwing three straight strikes to bring the contest to a close.
With win number 18 for the second half in the bag and a Carolina loss, the Stars moved in to sole position of second place in the north remaining two games back of Tennessee. Huntsville can guarantee a series victory with a win Saturday as the current set continues at 6:00 p.m. (CDT).
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Stars move to within a game of first with win over Braves
By Aaron Morse
Drew Anderson and Chris Nowak drove in two runs each and the Huntsville Stars’ (17-15, 50-52) pitching staff was dominant on their way to a 6-0 victory over the Mississippi Braves (15-17, 45-55) Wednesday night.
It was the second consecutive excellent outing from Stars’ right-hander Michael Bowman. This time he was rewarded with a win. Bowman battled with his control all night, walking four batters. But he held the Braves scoreless in his six innings of work. Bowman only surrendered two hits, both to Mauro Gomez, and struck-out four.
His counterpart was 19-year old top prospect Julio Teheran, making his double-A debut. Teheran also had to battle his control early, but was unable to work around his issues.
Anderson barely missed a home run in the second inning with a double off the wall in right. Nowak followed by singling him home to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Bowman did some great work with the stick, fouling off pitch after pitch and finally working a 12-pitch walk. That seemed to rattle Teheran, who walked Caleb Gindl, Zelous Wheeler, and Anderson as well. The Anderson walk brought home Bowman to extend the Stars’ advantage to 2-0. Teheran caught a break when Nowak hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Stars chased Teheran from the game in the fifth. Brett Lawrie led-off with a single up the middle. He was able to steal second base despite the throw beating him there as Tyler Pastornicky missed the tag. Gindl drew another walk, as did Anderson to load the bases. Nowak drove in Lawrie with a well-hit sacrifice fly to left. Everyone else moved up 90 feet as well and Gindl scored when Taylor Green rapped a single to right. That was it for Teheran as Benino Pruneda entered, only to give up a a RBI single to Lee Haydel. When the dust settled the Stars had a 5-0 lead.
They’d tack on one more in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Wheeler and Anderson. Drew nearly hit two homers on the day but had to settle a 2-3 night with two runs scored, two doubles, two RBI, and two walks. Anderson De La Rosa, Lawrie, and Haydel all had multi-hit games as well.
The Stars’ bullpen was excellent as Nick Green tossed two scoreless innings while Eddie Morlan worked the ninth to finish off the Braves.
For Huntsville it’s their fifth shutout of the year thrown by their pitching staff. With the win, combined with Tennessee and Carolina losing, the Stars sit all alone in second place, one game back of the Smokies in the north division.
The Stars look to win game two of the five game set Thursday night as they send Mark Rogers (4-7, 3.68 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard only on www.huntsvillestars.com.
Drew Anderson and Chris Nowak drove in two runs each and the Huntsville Stars’ (17-15, 50-52) pitching staff was dominant on their way to a 6-0 victory over the Mississippi Braves (15-17, 45-55) Wednesday night.
It was the second consecutive excellent outing from Stars’ right-hander Michael Bowman. This time he was rewarded with a win. Bowman battled with his control all night, walking four batters. But he held the Braves scoreless in his six innings of work. Bowman only surrendered two hits, both to Mauro Gomez, and struck-out four.
His counterpart was 19-year old top prospect Julio Teheran, making his double-A debut. Teheran also had to battle his control early, but was unable to work around his issues.
Anderson barely missed a home run in the second inning with a double off the wall in right. Nowak followed by singling him home to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, Bowman did some great work with the stick, fouling off pitch after pitch and finally working a 12-pitch walk. That seemed to rattle Teheran, who walked Caleb Gindl, Zelous Wheeler, and Anderson as well. The Anderson walk brought home Bowman to extend the Stars’ advantage to 2-0. Teheran caught a break when Nowak hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The Stars chased Teheran from the game in the fifth. Brett Lawrie led-off with a single up the middle. He was able to steal second base despite the throw beating him there as Tyler Pastornicky missed the tag. Gindl drew another walk, as did Anderson to load the bases. Nowak drove in Lawrie with a well-hit sacrifice fly to left. Everyone else moved up 90 feet as well and Gindl scored when Taylor Green rapped a single to right. That was it for Teheran as Benino Pruneda entered, only to give up a a RBI single to Lee Haydel. When the dust settled the Stars had a 5-0 lead.
They’d tack on one more in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Wheeler and Anderson. Drew nearly hit two homers on the day but had to settle a 2-3 night with two runs scored, two doubles, two RBI, and two walks. Anderson De La Rosa, Lawrie, and Haydel all had multi-hit games as well.
The Stars’ bullpen was excellent as Nick Green tossed two scoreless innings while Eddie Morlan worked the ninth to finish off the Braves.
For Huntsville it’s their fifth shutout of the year thrown by their pitching staff. With the win, combined with Tennessee and Carolina losing, the Stars sit all alone in second place, one game back of the Smokies in the north division.
The Stars look to win game two of the five game set Thursday night as they send Mark Rogers (4-7, 3.68 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard only on www.huntsvillestars.com.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Stars miss multiple opportunities, fall to Suns
By Aaron Morse
Matt Dominguez hit a walk-off single in the ninth as the Jacksonville Suns (17-14, 57-44) edged the Huntsville Stars (16-15, 49-52) by a final score of 2-1 Monday night.
Huntsville left 13 men on base in the contest and the Stars were only 2-19 with runners in scoring position.
The lack of production wasted a great Double-A debut from Wily Peralta as he went six innings, scattering six hits, giving up a lone run while walking four and striking out five.
The Stars got on the board first in the second inning. Chris Nowak led-off with a double. One out later Chuckie Caufield drew a walk. That’s when Lee Haydel came up big with a RBI single to give Huntsville the 1-0 lead.
But the Suns responded right away against Peralta in the bottom half of the frame. With two away Tim Torres singled to center and John Otness doubled him home. The play at the plate was very close but Torres just slid in under Anderson De La Rosa’s tag to even things at one.
Neither team scored again until the ninth, but it’s not like the Stars didn’t have their fair share of chances. In fact, they got a runner in scoring position every inning from there on out with the exception of the ninth, yet they were unable to score. Perhaps their best opportunity came in the fifth when they couldn’t take advantage of a lead-off triple off the bat of Brett Lawrie.
The Suns finally made the Stars pay in the ninth against Lucas Luetge (1-2) and Robert Hinton. Lorenzo Scott singled off Luetge to start the inning. Ryan Curry bunted him over to second and the Stars decided to intentionally walk Vinny Rottino. Mike Guerrero called on Hinton to try and get Southern League All-Star Game MVP Matt Dominguez out. He was unable to as Dominguez singled up the middle, driving in Scott for the walk-off win.
With the loss, the Stars fall to two games back of the Tennessee Smokies in the north division.
The Stars are off Tuesday before returning to Joe Davis Stadium on Wednesday to open a 10-game home stand. The Mississippi Braves are in town and you can hear all the action on www.huntsvillestars.com. First pitch on Wednesday is at 7:00 p.m. central time.
Matt Dominguez hit a walk-off single in the ninth as the Jacksonville Suns (17-14, 57-44) edged the Huntsville Stars (16-15, 49-52) by a final score of 2-1 Monday night.
Huntsville left 13 men on base in the contest and the Stars were only 2-19 with runners in scoring position.
The lack of production wasted a great Double-A debut from Wily Peralta as he went six innings, scattering six hits, giving up a lone run while walking four and striking out five.
The Stars got on the board first in the second inning. Chris Nowak led-off with a double. One out later Chuckie Caufield drew a walk. That’s when Lee Haydel came up big with a RBI single to give Huntsville the 1-0 lead.
But the Suns responded right away against Peralta in the bottom half of the frame. With two away Tim Torres singled to center and John Otness doubled him home. The play at the plate was very close but Torres just slid in under Anderson De La Rosa’s tag to even things at one.
Neither team scored again until the ninth, but it’s not like the Stars didn’t have their fair share of chances. In fact, they got a runner in scoring position every inning from there on out with the exception of the ninth, yet they were unable to score. Perhaps their best opportunity came in the fifth when they couldn’t take advantage of a lead-off triple off the bat of Brett Lawrie.
The Suns finally made the Stars pay in the ninth against Lucas Luetge (1-2) and Robert Hinton. Lorenzo Scott singled off Luetge to start the inning. Ryan Curry bunted him over to second and the Stars decided to intentionally walk Vinny Rottino. Mike Guerrero called on Hinton to try and get Southern League All-Star Game MVP Matt Dominguez out. He was unable to as Dominguez singled up the middle, driving in Scott for the walk-off win.
With the loss, the Stars fall to two games back of the Tennessee Smokies in the north division.
The Stars are off Tuesday before returning to Joe Davis Stadium on Wednesday to open a 10-game home stand. The Mississippi Braves are in town and you can hear all the action on www.huntsvillestars.com. First pitch on Wednesday is at 7:00 p.m. central time.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Stars sneak past Suns in extra innings
By Aaron Morse
The Huntsville Stars (16-14, 49-51) took advantage of two Jacksonville Suns (16-14, 56-44) errors in the top half of the tenth inning to prevail 4-1 Sunday afternoon.
It was a pitcher’s duel early on as Chris Cody and Elih Villanueva were both excellent on the hill. The Stars got on the board first in the top of the fourth. Zelous Wheeler led-off the inning with a single to center. Wheeler swiped second base and with one away Chris Nowak got hit by a pitch. The Stars loaded the bases after Taylor Green drew a walk. Villanueva managed to get Lee Haydel pop out, but with Patrick Arlis at the plate, the former Florida State Seminole uncorked a wild pitch. Wheeler came hustling home and the Stars grabbed the 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile Chris Cody walked a bit of a tightrope. In the first inning the Suns got a runner to third but a sharp liner to Taylor Green allowed him to turn the unassisted double play and get Cody out of trouble.
Ryan Curry smacked a two-out double in the second but Cody struck-out Jason Delaney to end the inning.
In the third, the Suns got another man to third base and this time Lorenzo Scott hit a fly ball to center that Caleb Gindl caught and fired to plate. His throw was true and John Otness was out by a mile.
Cody hardly broke a sweat after a one-out double in the fourth went for naught for Jacksonville.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that Cody sent the Suns down 1-2-3, and he ran into more trouble in the seventh. Back-to-back singles and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with only one away. Stars’ manager Mike Guerrero opted to call on Eddie Morlan to relieve Cody and try to get out of the inning.
Morlan would do exactly that but not before an Otness sacrifice fly tied things up at one. Cody got a no-decision but pitched well, going 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits, surrendering the lone run, walking nobody and striking out two.
The game remained tied until the fateful tenth.
Patrick Arlis legged out an infield single against reliever Kris Harvey. Stars’ pitcher Jim Henderson got down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, putting the go-ahead run into scoring position. Brett Lawrie followed with an infield single of his own and the Stars had runners at the corners with only one down. Caleb Gindl chopped a ball to first base that Vinny Rottino threw wild to home, allowing Arlis to score and giving the Stars the 2-1 lead. Huntsville showed off their trademark aggressiveness by pulling off a double steal. With runners on second and third, the poor defense continued as Zelous Wheeler hit a grounder to short that Osvaldo Martinez threw wildly to home, so wild was his throw that two runs scored on the play, extending the lead to 4-1.
Henderson tossed a scoreless bottom of the 10th to give the Stars their third consecutive victory and a much-needed series win over the Suns. The Stars managed to win the game despite only tallying six hits (no one had a multi-hit game) and zero RBI.
The Stars look to take 4 of 5 from the Suns as they play at 6:05 p.m. central time Monday night. Michael Fiers (1-0, 4.15 ERA) will take on Andrew Miller (1-5, 5.52 ERA). You can hear all the action only on www.huntsvillestars.com.
The Huntsville Stars (16-14, 49-51) took advantage of two Jacksonville Suns (16-14, 56-44) errors in the top half of the tenth inning to prevail 4-1 Sunday afternoon.
It was a pitcher’s duel early on as Chris Cody and Elih Villanueva were both excellent on the hill. The Stars got on the board first in the top of the fourth. Zelous Wheeler led-off the inning with a single to center. Wheeler swiped second base and with one away Chris Nowak got hit by a pitch. The Stars loaded the bases after Taylor Green drew a walk. Villanueva managed to get Lee Haydel pop out, but with Patrick Arlis at the plate, the former Florida State Seminole uncorked a wild pitch. Wheeler came hustling home and the Stars grabbed the 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile Chris Cody walked a bit of a tightrope. In the first inning the Suns got a runner to third but a sharp liner to Taylor Green allowed him to turn the unassisted double play and get Cody out of trouble.
Ryan Curry smacked a two-out double in the second but Cody struck-out Jason Delaney to end the inning.
In the third, the Suns got another man to third base and this time Lorenzo Scott hit a fly ball to center that Caleb Gindl caught and fired to plate. His throw was true and John Otness was out by a mile.
Cody hardly broke a sweat after a one-out double in the fourth went for naught for Jacksonville.
It wasn’t until the sixth inning that Cody sent the Suns down 1-2-3, and he ran into more trouble in the seventh. Back-to-back singles and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with only one away. Stars’ manager Mike Guerrero opted to call on Eddie Morlan to relieve Cody and try to get out of the inning.
Morlan would do exactly that but not before an Otness sacrifice fly tied things up at one. Cody got a no-decision but pitched well, going 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits, surrendering the lone run, walking nobody and striking out two.
The game remained tied until the fateful tenth.
Patrick Arlis legged out an infield single against reliever Kris Harvey. Stars’ pitcher Jim Henderson got down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, putting the go-ahead run into scoring position. Brett Lawrie followed with an infield single of his own and the Stars had runners at the corners with only one down. Caleb Gindl chopped a ball to first base that Vinny Rottino threw wild to home, allowing Arlis to score and giving the Stars the 2-1 lead. Huntsville showed off their trademark aggressiveness by pulling off a double steal. With runners on second and third, the poor defense continued as Zelous Wheeler hit a grounder to short that Osvaldo Martinez threw wildly to home, so wild was his throw that two runs scored on the play, extending the lead to 4-1.
Henderson tossed a scoreless bottom of the 10th to give the Stars their third consecutive victory and a much-needed series win over the Suns. The Stars managed to win the game despite only tallying six hits (no one had a multi-hit game) and zero RBI.
The Stars look to take 4 of 5 from the Suns as they play at 6:05 p.m. central time Monday night. Michael Fiers (1-0, 4.15 ERA) will take on Andrew Miller (1-5, 5.52 ERA). You can hear all the action only on www.huntsvillestars.com.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Stars beat Suns in back-and-forth battle
By Aaron Morse
Drew Anderson smacked a two-RBI double to give the Stars (15-14, 48-51) the lead for good and Huntsville’s pitching staff struck-out a season-high 16 batters on their way to a 5-2 victory Saturday night over the Jacksonville Suns (16-13, 56-43).
Jacksonville got to Stars’ starter Amaury Rivas in the second inning as Matt Dominguez started things with a lead-off walk. A grounder moved him to second, and with two away Tim Torres came through with a bloop single to left, scoring Dominguez and giving the Suns a 1-0 lead.
Huntsville got some two-out lightning of their own in the top of the third. Caleb Gindl doubled to left and Zelous Wheeler followed with a double of his own to tie the game at one.
The back-and-forth two-out offense continued in the bottom of the frame. Amaury Rivas retired the first two batters he faced and struck-out Osvaldo Martinez for what should have been out number three. Unfortunately the ball got away from Anderson De La Rosa, allowing Martinez to reach safely. Martinez took advantage by stealing second base and scoring on a Vinny Rottino single.
The Suns’ 2-1 lead didn’t last long as the Stars came back in the top of the fourth. Chris Nowak led-off with a walk. That was the end of the day for Suns’ starter Jose Rosario as the Suns brought in Wade Korpi (0-3). Nowak proceeded to steal second base and advance to third on a Taylor Green ground-out. Lee Haydel smacked a sacrifice fly to knot things at two.
Korpi’s control was his undoing in the fifth as he walked Rivas and Lawrie to start the inning. It was the first time all year Rivas has reached base. Caleb Gindl bunted the runners over and Korpi walked Wheeler as well. With the bases full, Drew Anderson came up large with a double to right, scoring Rivas and Lawrie to give the Stars a 4-2 advantage.
Rivas (9-5) went five innings, giving up four hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one and struck-out six. Nick Green came in for Rivas and was dominant, tossing two scoreless innings and striking-out five hitters.
Huntsville added an insurance run in the eighth thanks to a Wheeler solo homer. Jim Henderson struck-out two on his way to a scoreless bottom half of the frame.
Robert Hinton nailed down his third save of the year and second in as many days with a 1-2-3 ninth as he struck-out the side.
With the win, the Stars pull to within 1.5 games of the Tennessee Smokies for the north division lead as Tennessee was rained out Saturday.
Huntsville looks to clinch the series victory Sunday afternoon as they’ll get started at 2:05 p.m. central time. The Stars’ starter is TBA, but he’ll be squaring off against Elih Villanueva (10-4, 2.39 ERA). Tune in beginning at 1:50 p.m. for the Window World Pre-Game Report on the Stars Radio Network.
Drew Anderson smacked a two-RBI double to give the Stars (15-14, 48-51) the lead for good and Huntsville’s pitching staff struck-out a season-high 16 batters on their way to a 5-2 victory Saturday night over the Jacksonville Suns (16-13, 56-43).
Jacksonville got to Stars’ starter Amaury Rivas in the second inning as Matt Dominguez started things with a lead-off walk. A grounder moved him to second, and with two away Tim Torres came through with a bloop single to left, scoring Dominguez and giving the Suns a 1-0 lead.
Huntsville got some two-out lightning of their own in the top of the third. Caleb Gindl doubled to left and Zelous Wheeler followed with a double of his own to tie the game at one.
The back-and-forth two-out offense continued in the bottom of the frame. Amaury Rivas retired the first two batters he faced and struck-out Osvaldo Martinez for what should have been out number three. Unfortunately the ball got away from Anderson De La Rosa, allowing Martinez to reach safely. Martinez took advantage by stealing second base and scoring on a Vinny Rottino single.
The Suns’ 2-1 lead didn’t last long as the Stars came back in the top of the fourth. Chris Nowak led-off with a walk. That was the end of the day for Suns’ starter Jose Rosario as the Suns brought in Wade Korpi (0-3). Nowak proceeded to steal second base and advance to third on a Taylor Green ground-out. Lee Haydel smacked a sacrifice fly to knot things at two.
Korpi’s control was his undoing in the fifth as he walked Rivas and Lawrie to start the inning. It was the first time all year Rivas has reached base. Caleb Gindl bunted the runners over and Korpi walked Wheeler as well. With the bases full, Drew Anderson came up large with a double to right, scoring Rivas and Lawrie to give the Stars a 4-2 advantage.
Rivas (9-5) went five innings, giving up four hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one and struck-out six. Nick Green came in for Rivas and was dominant, tossing two scoreless innings and striking-out five hitters.
Huntsville added an insurance run in the eighth thanks to a Wheeler solo homer. Jim Henderson struck-out two on his way to a scoreless bottom half of the frame.
Robert Hinton nailed down his third save of the year and second in as many days with a 1-2-3 ninth as he struck-out the side.
With the win, the Stars pull to within 1.5 games of the Tennessee Smokies for the north division lead as Tennessee was rained out Saturday.
Huntsville looks to clinch the series victory Sunday afternoon as they’ll get started at 2:05 p.m. central time. The Stars’ starter is TBA, but he’ll be squaring off against Elih Villanueva (10-4, 2.39 ERA). Tune in beginning at 1:50 p.m. for the Window World Pre-Game Report on the Stars Radio Network.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Stars edge Suns to break four game skid
By Aaron Morse
Chris Nowak singled home Drew Anderson in the eighth and Taylor Green tied a club record for doubles in a game with three as the Huntsville Stars (14-14, 47-51) snuck past the Jacksonville Suns (16-12, 56-42) by a final score of 3-2 Friday night.
Each team put up two runs in the second inning. With one away, back-to-back doubles from Green and Lee Haydel gave Huntsville a 1-0 edge. Then with two away, Stars’ starter Mark Rogers helped out his own cause with a double of his own to drive in Haydel and give the Stars a 2-0 lead.
But the advantage would be short-lived as the Suns came back in their half of the frame. Former Star Vinny Rottino singled to lead things off. He stole second base and Lee Mitchell drew a walk. One out later Ryan Curry doubled home Rottino, putting runners at second and third with one out. John Otness grounded out, driving in the tying run in the process. Rogers walked another batter but was able to get out of the inning with no further damage when he got the next batter to ground back to the mound.
It was another shaky night for Rogers, who is always tough to hit, but continues to have control issues. He went 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on only two hits, but he walked five and struck-out four. It took him 88 pitches to get through his night and he was replaced after he walked Rottino with two outs in the fifth inning. Lucas Luetge entered and walked the first man he faced but was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
Unlike in previous games, the battle of the bullpens went the Stars’ way. Suns’ starter Tom Koehler tossed six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck-out six.
Dan Jennings (4-2), fresh off his ejection the previous night, entered in the seventh and threw a shutout inning before the Stars got to him in the eighth. With one away Drew Anderson drilled the Stars’ sixth double of the night. Chris Nowak followed with a jam-shot single that scored Anderson, putting the Stars ahead 3-2.
Taylor Green etched his name in the Stars’ record book with his third double of the night, tied for the most in a single game by a Star, but he was left stranded. He’s the first Star to tally three doubles in one game since Corey Hart did it in 2003.
Andre Lamontagne (2-0) picked up where Luetge, who went an inning and a third of scoreless ball left off. The big right-hander bounced back from his rough outing the other day to go two scoreless innings and pick up his second win of the season for the Stars.
Robert Hinton, recently reassigned to Huntsville from Nashville, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
Green and Nowak tallied multi-hit games and of the Stars’ nine hits, seven of them were doubles.
With the victory, the Stars remain two games back of Tennessee for first place in the Southern League north division. They send their ace, Amaury Rivas, to the mound Saturday night as they look to take a two games to one lead in their five game set with Jacksonville. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. central time and all the action can be heard on the Stars Radio Network.
Chris Nowak singled home Drew Anderson in the eighth and Taylor Green tied a club record for doubles in a game with three as the Huntsville Stars (14-14, 47-51) snuck past the Jacksonville Suns (16-12, 56-42) by a final score of 3-2 Friday night.
Each team put up two runs in the second inning. With one away, back-to-back doubles from Green and Lee Haydel gave Huntsville a 1-0 edge. Then with two away, Stars’ starter Mark Rogers helped out his own cause with a double of his own to drive in Haydel and give the Stars a 2-0 lead.
But the advantage would be short-lived as the Suns came back in their half of the frame. Former Star Vinny Rottino singled to lead things off. He stole second base and Lee Mitchell drew a walk. One out later Ryan Curry doubled home Rottino, putting runners at second and third with one out. John Otness grounded out, driving in the tying run in the process. Rogers walked another batter but was able to get out of the inning with no further damage when he got the next batter to ground back to the mound.
It was another shaky night for Rogers, who is always tough to hit, but continues to have control issues. He went 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on only two hits, but he walked five and struck-out four. It took him 88 pitches to get through his night and he was replaced after he walked Rottino with two outs in the fifth inning. Lucas Luetge entered and walked the first man he faced but was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
Unlike in previous games, the battle of the bullpens went the Stars’ way. Suns’ starter Tom Koehler tossed six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck-out six.
Dan Jennings (4-2), fresh off his ejection the previous night, entered in the seventh and threw a shutout inning before the Stars got to him in the eighth. With one away Drew Anderson drilled the Stars’ sixth double of the night. Chris Nowak followed with a jam-shot single that scored Anderson, putting the Stars ahead 3-2.
Taylor Green etched his name in the Stars’ record book with his third double of the night, tied for the most in a single game by a Star, but he was left stranded. He’s the first Star to tally three doubles in one game since Corey Hart did it in 2003.
Andre Lamontagne (2-0) picked up where Luetge, who went an inning and a third of scoreless ball left off. The big right-hander bounced back from his rough outing the other day to go two scoreless innings and pick up his second win of the season for the Stars.
Robert Hinton, recently reassigned to Huntsville from Nashville, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
Green and Nowak tallied multi-hit games and of the Stars’ nine hits, seven of them were doubles.
With the victory, the Stars remain two games back of Tennessee for first place in the Southern League north division. They send their ace, Amaury Rivas, to the mound Saturday night as they look to take a two games to one lead in their five game set with Jacksonville. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. central time and all the action can be heard on the Stars Radio Network.
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