Barons Clinch Second Half, 6-2

Published on August 27, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Round three goes to the Barons, and this one knocked out the Stars. Birmingham throttled Huntsville, 6-2, on Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium, clinching the second-half championship. Birmingham will host the final three games against Huntsville in the best-of-five Southern League Western Division Championship Series. The Stars (33-32) have lost three straight games and seven of eight, equaling their longest slump of the season.

In the first two games of the series, Birmingham took advantage of Stars mistakes to grab early 2-0 leads. Thursday, an unlikely power source gave the Barons a two-run advantage. Juan Piniella doubled to start the fourth, and one out later Scott Bikowski, the league's leading hitter, launched a two-run homer, just his third of the season. Bikowski paced the Barons' attack, going 3-for-5 with three runs batted in.

Down 3-0 in the sixth, Huntsville scored its first run after J.J. Hardy walked and Corey Hart doubled. Noochie Varner followed with a sacrifice fly to left. Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Daryl Clark doubled deep to left-center and later scored on Alejandro Machado's groundout to second.

Needing four to tie in the ninth, the Stars loaded the bases when Mike Kremblas walked after consecutive singles by Brad Nelson and Clark. Barons closer Jeff Bajenaru recovered to strike out Machado and Dave Krynzel, then Hardy popped out to end the game.

Carlos Castillo (3-1) notched his third straight win, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Jason Shelley (3-1) suffered his first loss in eight Southern League starts, permitting four runs on seven hits and four walks while fanning two. Jeff Bajenaru tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Castillo, surrendering three hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

In Thursday's series finale, Stars lefty Jeff Housman (3-2, 3.57) meets Barons right-hander Enemencio Pacheco (12-2, 2.64). Game time is 5:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium, with Out of Eden performing in concert after the game.

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Southern League Stories from August 27, 2003


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