Biscuits Down Stars in Series Opener
August 22, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Rashad Eldridge knocked in five runs to power Montgomery past Huntsville 11-3 Saturday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Biscuits improved to 26-29 in the second half and 59-66 overall, while the Stars dipped to 21-34 in the second half and 59-65 overall. The Biscuits have won five straight over the Stars after dropping the first game in the season series.
Eldridge opened the game with a walk against Dave Bush, making his second rehab start with the Stars this season, stole second base, moved to third on a ground out and scored the game's first run on a single by Chris Nowak. Bush was removed after a one-out walk to Cody Cipriano in the fourth, having allowed only hit. He walked three and fanned two and was charged with two runs after a two-out run-scoring hit by Cody Strait in the fourth off of Brandon Kintzler. The Biscuits loaded the bases with two outs later in the frame for Eldridge, who cleared them with his second triple of the season to make it a 5-0 game.
Huntsville got two runs back in the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Michael Garciaparra and a Lorenzo Cain fielder's choice grounder. Biscuits' starter Aneury Rodriguez found his way out of further trouble by striking out Shane Justis and getting Drew Anderson to line out to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. Rodriguez went six innings, giving up four hits, walking two, hitting two and fanning three. He beat the Stars for a second time in as many starts to improve to 8-10 with his fourth straight winning decision.
Montgomery broke the game open with five runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a Cody Cipriano run-scoring double, a two-run double by Jason Bowers and a run-scoring ground out by Eldridge. The visitors' 12-hit attack was paced by Bowers, who collected three of them, along with Strait, Nowak, Eldridge and Cipriano, who each chipped in with a pair.
Jonathan Lucroy doubled in the eighth inning in his final at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 22 games, matching the longest in team history set by Mickey Lopez from August 2-25, 2000. The Stars have been held to four runs on a dozen hits in the last three games and have dipped to 24-31 at home.
The series continues Sunday afternoon with Stars' right-hander Nick Green making the start against Biscuits' southpaw Ryan Morse. Coverage of the game begins at 12:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
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Southern League Stories from August 22, 2009
- Suns Rally Late to Blast BayBears on Latino Night - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Win 5-4 in Carolina Saturday Night - Tennessee Smokies
- Suns Crush BayBears, Extend Division Lead - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Diamond Jaxx cruise past Barons to take series opener - Jackson Generals
- Tennessee defeats Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- M-Braves Take Series Opener, 7-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Biscuits Down Stars in Series Opener - Huntsville Stars
- Biscuits Hammer Stars in Opener, 11-3 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Suns transactions for August 22 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jaxx roster moves for August 22 - Jackson Generals
- Mudcats transactions for August 22 - Carolina Mudcats
- Bush joins Stars for rehab start - Huntsville Stars
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