Hardy Homers Twice in Stars' 6-3 Loss

Published on June 3, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – For J.J. Hardy, the 2003 season has been roller coaster, with more peaks and valleys piled into the first two months than most players experience all year. The Stars' 20-year-old shortstop has battled through two minor injures and 15 straight games out of Huntsville's starting lineup.

When he has played, Hardy has chalked up just enough plate appearances to be among the league leaders with a stellar .320 batting average. Milwaukee's shortstop of the future recorded his second two-homer game this season in the Stars' 6-3 loss to Mobile on Tuesday at Joe Davis Stadium. The Bay Bears (22-34) avoided a sweep in the series and snapped Huntsville's four-game winning streak. The Stars (32-24) lead the Southern League West by three games, pending the outcome of Birmingham's game with West Tenn tonight.

Making his 13th start at short since returning to the lineup on May 13, Hardy accounted for all three Stars runs on Tuesday. Hardy did not start for 15 straight games with a strained left hip flexor, then he tweaked his low back just a couple days after getting back in the lineup. Hardy missed another two games, but his timing is slowly starting to return. After scuffling through a 2-for-12 stretch over four days in Birmingham, Hardy went 5-for-15 in the Mobile series with two homers, a double, three walks, four runs batted and six runs scored.

The Bears opened Tuesday's game with two unearned tallies against Pedro Liriano, but Hardy quickly halved the lead. In the bottom of the first, Hardy ripped Steve Watkins' 1-0 pitch for a line-drive homer to left-center, his sixth of the season. The Stars trailed 6-1 in sixth when Hardy crushed Watkins' 2-0 offering deep to leftfield for his second homer of the game and seventh of the campaign. The two-run shot pulled Huntsville within 6-3, but the Stars could get no closer.

Mobile's offense came from Rico Washington, who slammed a two-run homer off Liriano in the fifth and drove in four runs, Todd Donovan, who went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and three runs scored, and Yamid Haad who added a solo homer in the sixth against lefty Brian Adams. Khalil Greene's first-inning sacrifice fly accounted for the Bears' other run.

Watkins (4-3) locked down his fourth win with eight strong innings, permitting three runs on seven hits and no walks while fanning six. Liriano (4-6) suffered his sixth loss, permitting five runs, one earned, on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Liriano has allowed four homers in his last two starts after surrendering just two over his first 10. Rusty Tucker notched his 15th save, striking out the side in the ninth on nine pitches, as the Stars failed to make contact on any pitch in the frame.

Huntsville resumes play Thursday at Joe Davis Stadium against Chattanooga. Stars lefty Derek Lee (7-2, 2.78) meets Lookouts righty Ryan Mottl (1-3, 2.52). Game time is 7:05 p.m. Rip's Decks and Ramps present Dukes of Hazzard Night at the Joe. Cooter and the General Lee will be on hand, and anyone dressing up as a Dukes of Hazzard character gets free admission. Ford sponsors a fireworks spectacular after the game.

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Southern League Stories from June 3, 2003


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