Barons walk off with sweep of double dip

August 31, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Robbie Hudson's two-run single drove in the tying and winning runs to push Birmingham to a 3-2 come from behind win in extra innings in the nightcap and a doubleheader sweep over Huntsville Monday night at Regions Park. The Barons have won the last three games, all by one run, to lift their record to 39-25 in the second half and 87-46 overall, while the Stars fell to 25-38 in the second half and 63-69 overall. The Barons have taken ten out of 14 from the Stars, including eight of ten in Birmingham.

Rob Wooten took over for starter David Welch in the eighth trying to protect a 2-1 lead. Jared Price led off and reached on a fielding error before Javier Colina dropped down a sacrifice bunt and reached on a Wooten throwing error. Jordan Danks bunted for a base hit to fill the bases prior to CJ Retherford fouling out for the first out of the frame. Hudson, behind in the count 0-2, then laced a line drive into right field to deliver Price and Colina to give the Barons their second walk-off win of the series and fourth of the season in Birmingham over the Stars. Wooten suffered his first loss after blowing his first save in 12 opportunities.

Taylor Green's run-scoring hit in the top half of the eighth had given the Stars a 2-1 lead and knocked starter Matt Zaleski out of the game after he had yielded a dozen hits. The right-hander struck out two and did not walk a batter and was followed by Johnny Lujan, who recorded the last two outs to record his second win.

Welch retired the first four hitters he faced before Dayan Viciedo blasted a home run in the second inning to give the Barons a 1-0 lead in the nightcap. Huntsville hit into inning-ending double plays in the second and fourth innings with two runners on before finally breaking through in the fifth to tie the game against Zaleski.

Freddy Parejo doubled to start the frame, moved to third base on a Brett Lawrie single and came into score when Shane Justis grounded into a double play. The Stars then left Garciaparra stranded at third base with one out in the seventh after Lawrie fanned and Shane Justis flied out. Welch retired 16 batters in a row after the long ball before David Cook ended the string with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh. The southpaw then walked Viciedo and Jim Gallagher but emerged unscathed when Lee Cruz lined out to end the threat. Welch allowed two hits, walked two and struck out five.

Yohannis Perez singled with one out in the third in the opener, moved to second base on a Lawrie single and scored on a Justis double to give the visitors a 1-0. The Stars had runners at second and third base with one out but couldn't add to their lead, as Drew Anderson bounced back to the mound and Jonathan Lucroy flied out.

Adam Ricks singled with one out in the fifth and scored the tying run on a two-out double by Danks that ended Brandon Kintzler's scoreless innings streak at 14 2/3. The Barons grabbed the lead when Retherford, the only unanimous post-season All Star selection announced Monday, followed with a single to plate Danks and knock in his 73rd run of the season.

Barons' starter John Ely lasted five frames to pick up the win to improve to 13-2. He yielded five hits, walked two and fanned four. Justin Cassel took over and retired the Stars in order in the sixth before giving way to Clevelan Santeliz, who retired the side in turn in the seventh to earn his eighth save of the season. Kintzler suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 after giving up eight hits over five frames, walking two and striking out seven.



Southern League Stories from August 31, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central