Australian Lefty Gets It Done On Hill And At The Plate

Published on May 7, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


David Welch tossed six and two-thirds solid innings and chipped in with a huge three-run double in Huntsville's 7-3 win over Mobile Wednesday morning and afternoon in the middle of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars improved to 23-10 with their ninth straight win at home to temporarily move a half-game in front of West Tenn for the lead in the North Division, while the BayBears dropped to 15-18 and fell two and a half games behind Birmingham in the South Division. The Stars improved to 16-2 at home and clinched a sixth series win in seven tries.

Welch stranded runners at first and third with one out in the first and left John Hester at third after a one-out triple in the second inning. Mobile starter Hector Ambriz, who was also a position player at UCLA, clubbed a two-run home run in the fifth to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Ambriz got Matt LaPorta to ground into a double play with runners at the corners to end the first inning and then retired the side in order in each of the next three frames before Cole Gillespie and Freddy Parejo singled to open the fifth. Guilder Rodriguez walked one out later and Welch followed with a gapper to right-center to clear the bases and give the Stars their first lead. Welch has driven in five runs so far this season and the Stars' pitching staff has knocked in 10.

The lead didn't last long, as Bryan Byrne led off the sixth with an opposite field home run to left to tie the game. Carlos Corporan's two-out single in the bottom of the inning brought Gillespie in with the go-ahead run. Ambriz was removed after six innings and suffered the loss after yielding four runs on eight hits and two walks, while fanning four. Mike Bell greeted AJ Shappi with a leadoff home run in the seventh and the Stars tacked on two more in the eighth on Corporan's second RBI hit of the day and a Ryan Crew double play ball.

Welch was lifted after yielding three runs on eight hits and striking out a season-high six to earn his fourth win of the year and his third at home. Patrick Ryan tossed an inning and a third of shutout relief and Juan Sandoval retired the side in order to end the game.

The series continues Thursday night with left-hander Brae Wright taking the mound against BayBears' right-hander Matt Torra. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 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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Southern League Stories from May 7, 2008


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