Frazier Round Tripper Carries Carolina to Victory

Published on July 21, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Todd Frazier hit the game-winning home run in the eighth inning to power Carolina past Huntsville 4-3 Tuesday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium that was delayed by 70 minutes at the outset due to rain. The Mudcats won their third straight to improve to 10-16 in the second half and 47-48 overall, while the Stars slipped to 11-15 in the second half and 49-46 overall. The Stars fell to 18-23 at home and played in a one-run game for a fourth time in six days, dropping three of them.

Juan Francisco's run-scoring single in the first inning, three pitches into the game, got the scoring started but the Stars countered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning on a Drew Anderson run-scoring double and a throwing error by shortstop Zach Cozart that allowed Anderson to score.

The visitors tied the game in the second inning on a home run by Stephen Chapman, who was drafted and signed by the Brewers and spent the first five years of his career with them. Sean Henry reached to open the third on an Anderson fielding error and scored on a Mike Jones wild pitch to put Carolina back in the lead.

Jones worked out of a runners at first and third and nobody out jam in the top half of the fourth before Vinny Rottino's lead off long ball in the bottom of the inning got the game tied. It was his fourth of the season and first since June 7 at West Tenn. Mudcats' starter Lee Tabor was taken out after five frames, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits, while walking two and striking out one. Sean Watson took over and retired the side in order in the sixth and then set down Anderson and Jonathan Lucroy to end the seventh with two runners on base to earn his third win of the season.

Jones was lifted in a 3-3 game after six innings, allowing six hits, walking one and fanning a season-high nine. He has gone at least six innings in five of his nine starts with the Stars. Casey Baron worked a scoreless seventh inning before Frazier, who had struck out twice and flied out, belted a 2-2 pitch over the wall just to the right of straightaway center field for his 11th home run of the season leading off the decisive frame. Phillippe Valiquette worked a shutout eighth inning and Logan Ondrusek tossed a perfect ninth to record his sixth save.

The series continues Wednesday night with left-hander Sam Narron taking the hill for the Stars against Mudcats' right-hander Matthew Klinker. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 21, 2009


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