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Smokies top Stars for first time in nine tries

June 29, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Ty Wright drove in three runs to back the solid 6 2/3 innings of work by Casey Coleman in Tennessee's 7-2 victory over Huntsville Monday night in the second of a six-game set at Smokies Park. The Smokies improved to 4-4 in the second half and 36-42 overall, while the Stars slid to 5-3 in the second half and 43-34 overall. The Smokies ended an eight-game home losing streak to the Stars and won for the fourth time in 12 games in the season series.

Jonathan Lucroy doubled with two outs in the first inning, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Kevin Melillo singled into center field. It looked like the Stars were going to take a 3-0 lead in the second inning until Wright climbed the wall in left field and made a leaping catch on a Freddy Parejo fly ball that appeared destined to leave the yard as his third home run of the season.

Tony Thomas led off the home third with a double and advanced to third base on a Mark Reed ground out. Coleman attempted a squeeze bunt that was fielded by Stars' pitcher David Welch, who threw home to Lucroy, who tagged out Thomas trying to slide head first into the plate. Smokies' skipper Ryne Sandberg argued vociferously that Thomas had slid around the tag and was eventually thrown out of the game.

The Smokies bounced back and took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Darwin Barney walked to lead off the inning, moved to third base on a Marquez Smith double and scored to tie the game on Wright's single that moved Smith to third base. Jim Adduci was retired on a sacrifice bunt that pushed across Smith with the go-ahead run. Wright moved to second base on the bunt, to third base on a ground out and scored when Tony Thomas singled into center field. Thomas then stole second base and scored when Reed singled to complete the four-run rally.

The Stars loaded the bases with one out in the sixth before Smith came up with the play of the game, making a diving stop on a Garciaparra ground ball and throwing him out at first base from his knees. Shane Justis scored on the play to cut the lead to 4-2 but Coleman struck out Chuck Caufield with runners at second and third to end the inning. Welch was lifted after six frames, giving up four runs on seven hits and fell to 4-6 after walking two and striking out a pair.

Josh Wahpepah took over in the seventh for the Stars and ran into trouble after hitting Jonathan Mota with one out and giving up two singles to load the bases for Wright, who delivered a two-run single to right field to make it a 6-2 game. Adduci's infield hit chased home another run to finish the scoring, as the Smokies collected five hits in the inning, four of them with the hitter behind in the count. Six different Smokies had a pair of hits in a 13-hit attack.

Coleman was lifted after Adam Stern's two-out single in the seventh and replaced by Alex Maestri, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings to record his second save of the season. Coleman allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out six to improve to 8-3 and move into a three-way tie for the league lead in victories.

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Southern League Stories from June 29, 2009


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