Escobar Helps Stars To Weather-Shortened Win

Published on August 31, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Alcides Escobar singled in the go-ahead run during a three-run seventh inning rally that carried Huntsville past Birmingham 6-3 Friday night in a weather shortened affair at Regions Park in the second of a five-game series to close the regular season. The Stars improved to 36-30 in the second half and maintained their half-game lead over victorious Tennessee in the North Division, while the Barons dropped to 29-38 in the second half. The Stars won for just a fifth time in their last 16 games to take a nine to eight lead in the season series with Birmingham.

Escobar delivered a two-out single to plate Guiler Rodriguez to give the Stars a 4-3 lead against Barons' starter Wes Whisler, who was making his third start against Huntsville. Steve Sollmann singled to move Escobar to second base and chase Whisler, who was replaced by Carlos Torres. The right-hander uncorked a wild pitch that advanced the runners and they both scored on a looping single to right field by Adam Heether to push the visitors' advantage to 6-3. Whisler suffered his league-high 13th loss after allowing six runs, only earned, on a season-high 10 hits.

Sollmann led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on a base hit to center field by Heether, who gave the Stars the lead for a second straight night. However, the lead didn't last long, as Cory Aldridge blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to put the Barons on top 3-1. It was the 18th home run allowed by Stars' starter Corey Thurman, the second most of any pitcher in the league. The veteran right-hander yielded a long ball in 11 of his 12 starts. He did not give up a hit over the rest of his performance and was taken out after walking David Cook to open the seventh. He allowed four hits, walked three and fanned three to pick up his fifth win of the season and just his second as a starter.

Robert Hinton took over and retired all three hitters he faced in the seventh before giving up a leadoff single to Sean Smith in the eighth inning. With lightning visibly increasing and moving closer and closer to the stadium and with the impending threat of rain, play was halted with a 1-2 count on Victor Mercedes. The skies opened up shortly thereafter and the game was eventually canceled 30 minutes after play was stopped.

Birmingham shortstop Victor Mercedes committed a throwing error on a Michael Brantley ground ball that could have led to a double play and instead allowed Brendan Katin to score all the way from first base to trim the home side's lead to 3-2 and for Brantley to advance to third. He scored to tie the game on a fielder's choice grounder by Escobar, who knocked in his 24th run with the Stars.

The series continues Saturday night with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill for the Stars against Barons' left-hander Ryan Wing. Coverage begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com

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Southern League Stories from August 31, 2007


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