Stars Outlast Braves
April 15, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Vinny Rottino singled in the game-winning run with two outs in the 13th inning to lift Huntsville to a 5-4 win over Mississippi Tuesday in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars snapped a three-game slide to improve to 2-4, while the Braves dropped their second straight to fall to 2-4.
Brian Dumensil took over on the hill for the Braves in the decisive frame and recorded two ground outs before walking winning pitcher Casey Baron, who advanced to third base on a Jonathan Lucroy single. Rottino, mired in a 13 at-bat hitless drought, roped a line drive into left field on a full count pitch to end the four hour, 28 minute contest.
Each team stranded at least one runner in scoring position in each half of the 10th, 11th and 12th innings. Baron struck out Kody Kirkland with runners at second and third to end the 12th and retired the side in order on five pitches in the 13th to earn his first double-A win. Donovan Hand, Josh Wapehpah and Derrick Ellison combined for six innings of shutout relief behind starter Jeremy Jeffress, who recorded eight strikeouts in four frames and retired the last 10 batters he faced.
Mississippi took a 4-3 lead in the ninth against Juan Sandoval on consecutive sacrifice flies by Willie Cabrera and Travis Jones, who each knocked in their first run of the year. Yohannis Perez led off the home half of the inning with an opposite field home run off of Rafael Cruz to tie the score and drive in his third run of the game. Kevin Melillo followed with a pinch-hit double but was left stranded at third base.
The series continues on Wednesday night with southpaw Chris Cody making the start for Huntsville against Braves' right-hander Deunte Heath. 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 April 15, 2009
- Lookouts Turn Tables in Game Two, 10-2 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Mobile tops Carolina, 2-0 - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies fall to Barons in home opener, 6-2 - Tennessee Smokies
- Cardiac Kids Do it Again - Huntsville Stars
- New BayBears Website is Online - Mobile BayBears
- Ambriz Hurls BayBears to Shutout Win - Mobile BayBears
- Lookouts Beat Biscuits, 10-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Blank Jaxx for Fourth Straight Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jaxx shutout by Suns 3-0, on Wednesday afternoon - Jackson Generals
- Anderson Returns to Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
- Jaxx Game Notes - Jackson Generals
- Cozart, Buck Lift Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Stars Outlast Braves - Huntsville Stars
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