Sports stats



Cotts Leads Barons Past Stars, 9-1

May 30, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Birmingham, AL – Sometimes you just have to tip your cap. It was Neal Cotts' night. The Barons' outstanding lefty fanned 12 for his league-best seventh win in the Barons' 9-1 victory over Huntsville. Birmingham (27-23) has won two straight from the Stars (27-23) to forge a first-place tie with Huntsville in the Southern League West.

Cotts pitched efficiently, getting ahead in the count and putting hitters away quickly. He struck out a season-high 12, but he went to a three-ball count only four times. Cotts threw 115 pitches over 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Cotts (7-2) leads the league in strikeouts with 81 in just 57 2/3 innings, a remarkable ratio of 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He lowered his earned run average to 2.19, placing him fifth in the league.

"Cotts was making good pitches," Stars hitting instructor Sandy Guerrero said. "He was moving the ball in and out, but we weren't into the game tonight. We need a better effort tomorrow.

With some help from Huntsville's defense, the Barons put Cotts in front with a five-run second. With one out, Jonathan Aceves reached on an error by shortstop J.J. Hardy. Juan Piniella dropped down a perfect bunt for a base hit, and Josh Schaffer singled in a run. Chad Durham walked to load the bases, then pitcher Pedro Liriano's pick-off throw to second sailed into centerfield, scoring Piniella before Dave Krynzel gunned down Schaffer trying to advance to third. After Danny Sandoval walked to put runners at first and second, Ryan Hankins blasted a three-run homer for a 5-0 Barons lead.

In the fifth, Scott Bikowski lined an opposite-field, two-run homer to right, his first of the year, to put Birmingham up, 7-0. The Stars got their only run against Cotts in the sixth. Richard Paz ripped a one-out double to left, and one out later Cotts plunked Krynzel. J.J. Hardy then lined a single to right-center, scoring Paz and sending Krynzel to third. Cotts froze Corey Hart with an inside fastball for his 11th strikeout, ending the threat. The Barons made it 9-1 on run-scoring doubles by Carlos Maldonado and Piniella in the seventh.

Liriano (4-5) suffered his fifth loss, surrendering seven runs, two earned, on six hits and a season-high seven walks while fanning three. Baron Jim Bullard threw 2 2/3 scoreless frames, permitting three hits and one walk. Huntsville's Brian Adams gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings, and Ryan Miller tossed a perfect eighth for the Stars, striking out two.

Hitting Stars:
Dave Krynzel – 2-for-3, 2 1B, HBP
Richard Paz – 2-for-2, 2B, 1B, BB, R
J.J. Hardy – 1-for-4, 1B, RBI
Ryan Knox – 1-for-4, 1B, SB

Hitting Barons:
Ryan Hankins – 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R
Scott Bikowski – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Juan Piniella – 2-for-3, 2B, 1B, BB, RBI, R
Josh Schaffer – 2-for-4, 2 1B, RBI

In Friday's series finale, Stars lefty Derek Lee (5-2, 3.35) battles Barons righty Enemencio Pacheco (5-0, 1.61). Game time is 7 p.m., with the Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game Show at 6:45 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.

• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...

Southern League Stories from May 30, 2003


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.

Other Recent Huntsville Stars Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central