Stars and Jaxx Split Another Pair, 4-0 and 5-1
May 2, 2004 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Huntsville, AL â The Stars and Diamond Jaxx played game one on Sunday afternoon, then someone used the Xerox machine to create the game two script, only the original was inverted. Though the scores were not identical, the two games mirrored each other. West Tenn (10-13) won the first, 4-0, after scoring three in the first and cruising behind lefty Renyel Pinto's outstanding pitching. Huntsville (13-11) won the second, 5-1, after scoring two in the first and riding the left arm of newcomer Ryan Costello. The Stars moved one-half game in front in the Southern League West.
Costello(1-0), donning a Stars uniform for the first time, authored five shutout frames in game two, allowing four singles, two on the infield, while walking one and fanning five. He won his Southern League debut, pitching out of his only jam in fifth, when the Jaxx loaded the bases with two outs on a bloop-single and two infield dribblers. Costello induced pinch-hitter Matt Criag to ground into a force play at third to end the inning.
Pinto, shelled by Huntsville over two innings on April 22 at West Tenn, dominated in game one despite issuing a season-high four walks over six innings. He surrendered only Prince Fielder's first-inning double and fanned eight, also a personal season-high. Pinto (2-2) stranded five Stars runners, four in scoring position, over the first three frames, including pitching out of a two-on, none-out jam in the third, when Brad Nelson struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Pinto settled in, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and 12 of the last 13.
Rickie Weeks, Brad Nelson, Tony Gwynn, Jr. and Fielder drove in game two runs for the Stars, and Huntsville's final tally came on an unlikely double steal. With runners at first and third and two outs in the second, Fielder broke for second. The throw was late, and shortstop Josh Arteaga cut it off in front of the bag. Jason Belcher got a great jump and stormed down the line from third. Arteaga had no play, hanging on to the ball as Belcher scored for a 5-0 Stars lead.
The Stars and Jaxx play game five of the six-game series Monday at 12:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville lefty Jeff Housman (0-2, 5.19) meets West Tenn righty Chadd Blasko (2-2, 4.75).
Southern League Stories from May 2, 2004
- Stars and Jaxx Split Another Pair, 4-0 and 5-1 - Huntsville Stars
- Leek nearly perfect, Suns split DH - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Split Doubleheader - Montgomery Biscuits
- Smokies rained out for third time this trip - Knoxville Smokies
- G-Braves Postponed, Double Header Monday - Mississippi Braves
- Mudcats-BayBears game postponed - Carolina Mudcats
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