Defense Rolls Right Along To Complete Second Series Sweep

Published on April 28, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Chris Errecart's home run in the bottom of the ninth won the suspended game from Sunday for the Stars and Sam Narron spun six strong innings and clubbed a two-run home run in the regular scheduled game, as the Stars downed Jacksonville 10-9 and 7-2 Monday morning and afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium to complete a five-game series sweep. The Stars improved to 17-8 overall and 13-2 at home and await the results of the completion of Carolina's suspended and regular scheduled games to see where they stand in relation to the first place Mudcats in the North Division.

Juan Sandoval struck out Rene Rivera with his first and only pitch to end the top half of the ninth inning and grabbed the win in his second appearance with the Stars. Tanyon Sturtze took over on the hill for the Suns in the bottom of the ninth and retired Mat Gamel on a ground out with one pitch before Errecart blasted an 0-1 delivery off the scoreboard in left-center for the game-winning hit and his second home run of the season.

Errecart's two-out single in the home first staked Narron to an early lead. The southpaw, who retired the first 23 batters in his last start, retired the Suns in order in the first inning before walking Lucas May to open the second, thereby dashing any hopes of a repeat performance. Narron belted the first pitch he saw from Suns' starter Mario Alvarez over the wall in right field for a two-out, two-run home run, his first as a pro, to give the home team a 3-0 lead after two.

Gamel's fielding error with two outs in the fourth allowed Andy LaRoche to score from third to cut the Stars lead to 4-1 and James Tomlin's sacrifice fly, on a foul ball caught by Errecart, who went up and over the tarp roll to make the play, trimmed the Stars' lead to 4-2. Narron earned his staff-high fourth win after allowing one earned run on eight hits, walking two and fanning two. Patrick Ryan allowed one hit, walked a pair and struck out one over three scoreless frames to nail down his third save of the season. He has thrown 13 shutout innings in his first seven appearances.

Errecart knocked in another run in the sixth with a bases loaded single to right field that Jamie Hoffman overran, allowing both Alcides Escobar and Gamel to score the final runs for Huntsville, which scored 40 runs on 61 hits in the series. Gamel reached in all five of his plate appearances Monday, as he singled twice, walked twice and scored three times. He has hit safely in 14 straight games during which he has collected 26 hits.

Huntsville opens a five-game series Wednesday night at Montgomery with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the mound against Biscuits' southpaw Jake McGee. 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 April 28, 2008


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