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Jone Returns to Rotation in Stars' 5-1 Loss

August 2, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Even an ugly loss could not dampen the excitement Friday night. The Stars' prized 20-year-old right-hander returned to the mound at Joe Davis Stadium. Mike Jones, a former number one pick and Milwaukee's top pitching prospect, threw 38 pitches and looked as strong as ever, allowing only an unearned run on two hits and two walks in Huntsville's 5-1 loss to Birmingham. The Barons (21-18) now trail the Stars (22-17) by one game in the Southern League West.

Jones had not thrown since June 28 in Chattanooga, when he picked up his seventh win with five solid frames against the Lookouts. Jones was slated to start for the West Division in the Southern League All-Star game before his injury. Officially diagnosed as a mild elbow strain, Jones' injury kept him out of action for just over a month. In only his second full pro season, Jones deftly made the jump from low-A Beloit to double-A Huntsville, and his meteoric rise continued Friday in Huntsville.

Jones shut down the Barons over the first two innings, permitting only a two-out double to Jeremy Reed in the first and a two-out walk to Guillermo Reyes in the second. As so often happens, a leadoff walk led to the unearned run in the third. Tommy Nicholson walked and reached second on catcher Kade Johnson's errant pick-off throw to first. Danny Sandoval laid down a bunt toward third, where Corey Hart bobbled the ball, leaving runners at first and third with none out. Juan Piniella lofted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Nicholson for a 1-0 Barons lead. Reed bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.

Jones did not figure in the decision, as the Brewers' top prospect overall, Brad Nelson, ripped a fourth-inning double to score Brandon Gemoll, tying the game, 1-1. Nelson recorded his first three-hit game since joining the Stars from high-A High Desert, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base, his first of the season.

The Barons scored twice in the fifth and twice in the eighth to seize the game. Pineilla doubled home Sandoval in the fifth, and Bikowski later scored Piniella from third with a two-out dribbler up the first-base line. In the eighth, Carlos Maldonado led off with a double and scored on Reyes' single. After Reyes stole second base, Sandoval doubled him home to put Birmingham up, 5-1.

Tetsu Yofu (8-6) picked up his eighth win and third in his last three starts against Huntsville. Yofu surrendered one run on four hits and three walks while fanning four over 5 2/3 innings. Ryan Miller (0-6) absorbed his sixth loss, giving up two runs on two hits and five walks with one strikeout in two innings. Jeff Bajenaru notched his seventh save, tossing three near-perfect innings, walking one and fanning two.

The Stars and Barons resume their rivalry Saturday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham. Huntsville matches righty Dave Nolasco (0-1, 3.60) against Barons lefty Neal Cotts (8-6, 2.41). Game time is 7:00 p.m. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game Show starts at 6:45 p.m. Stars baseball can heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from August 2, 2003


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