Jeffress and Gamel Power Stars to Shutout Win

Published on August 18, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Jeremy Jeffress and two relievers combined on a six-hit shutout, as Huntsville blanked Birmingham 2-0 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Stars improved to 27-29 in the second half and 68-58 overall, while the Barons slipped to 27-28 in the second half and 67-58 overall. The Stars recorded their eighth shutout win of the season and their first since July 24 at Carolina.

Barons' starter Kyle McCulloch retired the side in order in the first inning before Angel Salome, named as the Southern League Hitter of the Week earlier in the day, led off the second inning and scored on Mat Gamel's home run, his 19th of the season. Gamel has hit home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since doing it in three straight games at Mobile from May 28-30. Gamel's long ball was the only extra-base hit of the contest, as the two teams combined for 16 singles.

Jeffress gave up back-to-back singles with one out in the first before retiring Javier Castillo and Brandon Allen to end the inning. He stranded a runner in each of the next two innings and was aided by a line drive double play to end the fourth and by catcher Martin Maldonado, who threw out Robert Valido trying to steal third base to end the fifth inning. Jeffress walked four, struck out four and set down the last four hitters he faced to earn his first win at the double-A level.

David Johnson threw a scoreless seventh inning before singles by Robert Valido and Miguel Negron opened the eighth inning. Victor Mercedes advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt but the rally was squashed when Ricardo Nanita lined out to Johnson, who threw to second base to double off Negron. Juan Sandoval took over in the ninth and set down the side in order to record his 17th save.

McCulloch, who gave up 13 runs, 11 earned, on 14 hits over 4 1/3 innings in his prior start, kept the Stars blanked over the next four innings and departed after allowing only one other runner to advance as far as second base. He gave up seven hits, walked one and fanned two but fell to 7-11. Kanekoa Texeira followed with two shutout frames, despite giving up three singles and a walk, before John Lujan blanked the Stars in the ninth.

The series continues Tuesday night with right-hander Donovan Hand taking the mound for Huntsville against Barons' southpaw Aaron Poreda. Coverage begins at 6:50 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 August 18, 2008


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