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Stars Turn on Power to Bash Braves

April 19, 2008 - Southern League (SL1) - Huntsville Stars News Release


Steve Hammond spun six solid innings and received home run support from Matt LaPorta and Alcides Escobar in Huntsville's 10-2 victory over Mississippi Saturday night in the opener of a five-game set at Trustmark Park. The Stars improved to 10-6 on the season but remain two games behind front-running Carolina in the North Division, while the Braves matched a franchise record with their eighth consecutive loss and fell to 2-14. The Stars have won all six meetings this year by outscoring the Braves 38-13 and have claimed each of the last 11 dating back to August of last season.

The home sides' first run came in the first inning when Carl Loadenthal walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, stole third base and scored on a Diory Hernandez base hit. Loadenthal wound up leaving the game with an injury after striking out in the fifth, one inning after Van Pope, who was just activated off the disabled list, left the game after apparently aggravating a strained left hamstring.

Chris Errecart opened the second inning with a single and scored when LaPorta crushed a 1-1 offering from Dan Smith into the picnic area in left field for his second home run of the season, and first since Opening Day, to give the visitors the lead for good. Mike Bell followed with a walk and scored on a triple by Cole Gillespie, who was then driven in on a base hit by Hammond to complete a four-run rally. Hammond doubled in Gillespie in the fourth inning to extend the Stars lead to 5-1.

Huntsville put the game out of reach in the sixth inning after Smith was removed with one out and two runners on base. Michael Brantley greeted Carlos Sencion with a run-scoring single and scored, along with Angel Salome, when Alcides Escobar blasted his second home run of the season to left-center field. Smith was charged with seven runs on nine hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings and lost for the fourth time in as many turns.

Hammond settled in after the first inning and blanked the Braves over the next five frames by stranding Kala Ka'aihue at third base with nobody out in the fourth and leaving two runners on in the fifth. He grabbed his second win after yielding four hits, walking two and striking out five to push his league-leading total to 25.

The series continues Sunday afternoon with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill against Braves' southpaw Dan Smith. Coverage of the game begins at 12:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.

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