BayBears Shut Down Stars for Third Straight Victory
Published on August 16, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
MOBILE, Ala. - For the first time since May 31, the BayBears' pitching staff tossed a shutout as they kept the Huntsville Stars quiet in a 1-0 victory on Saturday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Cody Evans (5-11) scattered six hits over his five innings of work with the biggest Huntsville (55-62, 17-31) threat coming in the third as Mark Holliman (7-7) led off with a single before a two-out hit by Drew Anderson and a walk to Jonathon Lucroy loaded the bags. As would be the case all night, the Stars couldn't get the big knock as Taylor Green bounced out back to Evans, ending the potential rally.
On the mound, Holliman had much of the same fortune as he coughed up seven hits in six frames. The BayBears (58-61, 21-28) touched him up briefly in the fourth when Orlando Mercado doubled with one out and took third on a single by Cyle Hankerd. Yunesky Sanchez was given a free pass to load the bases for Chris Rahl who popped the ball to left-center. Lorenzo Cain made the grab but Mercado streaked home for what turned out to be the game's only run.
Abe Woody returned to the BayBears after spending all of this season with Triple-A Reno. Woody surrendered a lead-off double in the sixth to Lucroy who advanced to third on a grounder off the bat of Green. Woody buckled down from there and made Chuckie Caufield and J.R. Hopf whiff to retire the side.
Woody hung another zero in the seventh as he induced a double play ball off the bat of pinch-hitter Freddy Parejo after walking Michael Garciaparra to the start the frame. The BayBears' middle infield combination of Mark Hallberg at short and Pedro Ciriaco at second turned three twin killings.
Ciriaco also gunned down Shane Justis at the plate to end the fifth as Anderson doubled into the right-field corner with two outs. Justis was out by at least 30 feet on a solid relay throw to the plate.
Former Milwaukee farmhand Roque Mercedes (S, 1) rattled off two perfect frames to complete the blanking. Hallberg extended his hit streak to 17 with a first-inning single.
The Mobile BayBears have sent nearly 100 players to the major leagues. They take on the Stars in the finale of their five-game series on Sunday night at 6:05 with Barry Enright (8-7, 3.98) getting the start. For Hank Aaron Stadium tickets, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.
Southern League Stories from August 16, 2009
- Stars Salvage Finale, Hold off BayBears' Late Rally - Mobile BayBears
- Huntsville Heads Home After Beating BayBears - Huntsville Stars
- Biscuits and Braves Rained Out Sunday - Montgomery Biscuits
- Mudcats Get Past Barons in Series Finale - Carolina Mudcats
- Sanchez to make major-league rehab start Monday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- BayBears Shut Down Stars for Third Straight Victory - Mobile BayBears
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