West Tenn Scores Early, Holds On Late To Handle Huntsville
July 6, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Justin Souza spun seven solid innings and West Tenn withstood another late rally to down Huntsville 7-5 Monday night in the third of a four-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx have won a season-high five in a row to improve to 10-5 in the second half and open a two-game lead in the North Division over Tennessee and a three-game cushion over the Stars, who lost a fourth straight to drop to 7-8 in the second half and 45-39 overall.
The Stars put runners at the corners with one out in the first against Souza, who struck out Kevin Melillo and got Jonathan Lucroy to ground out to end the threat. The visitors then tallied twice in the second inning against Bobby Bramhall on a run-scoring hit by David Espinoza and a Jimmy Mojica double play grounder with the bases loaded.
The Jaxx scored four times in the third inning on a Melillo throwing error, a run-scoring ground out by Colt Morton, a Guillermo Quiroz sacrifice fly and a two-out single by Mojica that chased Bramhall from the game. The Stars' southpaw was charged with the loss and dropped to 4-6 after allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks. Juan Sandoval, Casey Baron and Robert Hinton combined to throw 6 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, while fanning four.
A Lucroy passed ball in the sixth inning allowed Mel Stocker to score to make it 7-2 and Souza left with that same lead after allowing five hits, walking one and fanning six. He beat the Stars for the first time in four tries to improve to 6-6 after working a combined 8 1/3 frames in his first three starts against them, giving up 11 runs on 19 hits.
Nick Hill took over in the eighth and retired the first hitter before a Matt Mangini throwing error on a Drew Anderson grounder was followed by a Melillo hit and Mike Wilson fielding error that put runners at second and third. Lucroy's ground ball out scored Anderson to make it 7-3 before Melillo scored on a base hit by Taylor Green, who went to second on the throw home and scored to make it 7-5 on a Vinny Rottino double that chased Hill from the game. Anthony Varvaro took over and retired Chuck Caufield to end the inning and retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year and second in as many days.
The series wraps up Tuesday night with Stars' right-hander Mark Holliman taking the hill against West Tenn right-hander Steve Bray. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
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Southern League Stories from July 6, 2009
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- Win streak reaches five with 7-5 triumph over Stars - Jackson Generals
- West Tenn Scores Early, Holds On Late To Handle Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
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