Gamel, Gillespie Drive Stars to Victory

Published on June 30, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mat Gamel and Cole Gillespie each collected three hits and drove in a pair of runs to power Huntsville to a 7-3 win over Tennessee Monday night in the opener of a four-game set at Smokies Park. The Stars won their second straight game to improve to 7-6 in the second half and 48-35 overall, while the Smokies dropped to 9-4 in the second half and saw their lead in the North Division trimmed to two games. The Stars have won all six meetings between the teams and have outscored the Smokies 44-17 in so doing.

Freddy Parejo singled with one out in the third, moved to second base on an Alcides Escobar single and scored the game's first run on a double by Mat Gamel, who knocked in his league-high 71st run. Angel Salome then chopped a ground ball to third baseman Josh Lansford, who went back, dived and tagged out Escobar trying to get back to the bag for the second out before Matt LaPorta fanned to end the frame.

David Welch singled in a run in the fourth before Parejo was hit by a pitch to load the bases but the Stars could not cash in, as Escobar bounced into a force out at the plate and Gamel fouled out to third. Tennessee pushed across a run in the bottom of the inning on a Mark Reed ground out that plated Matt Craig, who had opened the inning with a walk.

Mike Bell's two-out single in the fifth scored Cole Gillespie, who had doubled with two outs, to push the lead to 3-1. Smokies' starter James Russell was removed after five frames, giving up three runs on nine hits, walking one, hitting two and fanning three. Mark Holliman took over in the sixth and yielded a run-producing hit by Gamel that extended the visitors lead to 4-1 and sent Escobar to third before LaPorta grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Welch was taken out after four innings and 86 pitches, having allowed three hits, walking four and striking out two. David Johnson worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three to improve to 3-2 with his first win since April 14 at home over the Lookouts. Gillespie's two-out, two-run double of Ed Campusano in the eighth pushed the Stars lead to 6-1 and gave him 52 RBI on the season, the fifth Stars' batter to drive in more than 50. Huntsville pounded out 16 hits but stranded a season-high 15, including at least one in every inning.

Jake Fox opened the home eighth with a single, moved to third on a Craig double and scored when Escobar couldn't come up with a Doug Deeds ground ball. Parejo overran the ball in centerfield to allow Craig to score to cut the lead to 6-3. Jason Shiell retired the next two hitters before being replaced by Juan Sandoval, who walked the pinch-hitter Kyle Reynolds before retiring Matt Camp on a come backer to end the inning. Sandoval then retired the side in order in the ninth to record his ninth save and extend his scoreless innings streak to 13 1/3 over his last nine outings.

The series continues Tuesday night with southpaw Brae Wright making the start against Smokies' right-hander Mitch Atkins. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 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 June 30, 2008


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