Gonzalez Impressive In Pitching Barons Past Stars

Published on April 27, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Gio Gonzalez struck out 13 hitters over seven innings and Thomas Collaro delivered a two-run double in Birmingham's three-run first inning en route to a 6-3 triumph over Huntsville Friday night in the second game of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Barons have taken the first two games to improve to 13-9 on the season, while the Stars fell to 9-11 and one game behind victorious Tennessee in the Southern League North Division.

Jason Bourgeois opened the home first with a double, advanced to third on a Chris Getz infield single and stayed put when Jeremy West was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Collaro then doubled into center field to drive in two and push West to third, from where he scored on a Chris Kelly sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Stars' starter Manny Parra has been scored on in the first inning in three of his four starts and the Stars have allowed the opposition to score in the first inning in 13 of their 20 games.

Gonzalez retired the first six hitters he faced with 20 pitches before Brendan Katin led off the third with an opposite field home run to right-center field, his third of the year. Steve Sollmann drew a one-out walk in the fourth, moved to second base on a Lou Palmisano single and scored to trim the Barons' lead to 3-2 when Steve Moss followed with a double. However, Gonzalez battled back to strike out Mike Carlin and get Katin to ground out to end the threat and keep Birmingham in the lead.

Kelly led off the home fourth and reached on a throwing error by Jeff Eure and advanced to second base on a Ricardo Nanita single. Donny Lucy dropped down a sacrifice bunt attempt that was fielded by Parra, who looked to third, couldn't get the out there and then threw wildly past first base, allowing Kelly to score, Nanita to make it to third and Lucy to move to second base. Nanita would then score on a Bourgeois sacrifice fly. Parra was charged with five runs, four earned, on six hits over six innings and suffered his first loss of the season.

Gonzalez struck out the side in three different innings, struck out three different batters three times and registered a punch out in six of his seven innings of work. He allowed five hits and walked one in picking up his fourth win of the season and his third in as many starts at home. Edwardo Sierra got Eure to ground into a game-ending double play to record his first save of the season.

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Southern League Stories from April 27, 2007


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