Late Offense Carries Stars to Win

Published on August 12, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Michael Garciaparra's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning pushed across the decisive run in Huntsville's 6-4 come from behind win over Mobile Wednesday night in the opener of a five-game set at Hank Aaron Stadium. The Stars won their second straight to improve to 17-28 in the second half and 55-59 overall, while the BayBears lost for a 17th time in their last 21 games to fall to 18-28 in the second half and 55-61 overall. The Stars topped the BayBears for a fourth time in 11 tries and improved to 34-31 on the road.

Chuck Caufield led off the eighth inning with a walk and moved to third base on a single by Jonathan Lucroy that chased Josh Ellis from the game. The BayBears called on left-hander Jordan Norberto to face the lefty-swinging Taylor Green, who doubled to left field to deliver Caufield to tie the game at three and advance Lucroy to third base. Pinch-hitter Kevin Melillo walked to load the bases before Garciaparra lined the first pitch he saw deep enough to right field to chase home Lucroy with the go-ahead run. Lorenzo Cain's two-out, two-run home run in the ninth extended the visitors lead to 6-3 for Rob Wooten, who allowed a run in the bottom of the inning but cashed in for his seventh save in seven chances to preserve the victory.

Lucroy's two-out single in the fourth inning extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest for a Stars' batter this season. Mobile starter Tom Layne walked the next two hitters to fill the bases before Garciaparra fanned to end the threat. Pedro Ciriaco started the home half of the frame with a single, moved to third base on a Ricardo Sosa flare base hit to right field and scored on a Bryan Byrne single to put the BayBears ahead 2-0. Stars' starter Brandon Kintzler worked out of further trouble by striking out Cyle Hankerd and getting Matt Tupman to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Lucroy doubled with two outs in the sixth, advanced to third base on Green's squibbing infield hit and scored to pull the Stars to within 2-1 when Ciriaco, the shortstop, couldn't make the play on a bare hand attempt and the ball got past him toward the outfield grass. Layne was then lifted in favor of the right-hand throwing Josh Ellis, who got the righty-swinging Freddy Parejo to pop out to end the inning. Layne allowed four hits, walked four and fanned four over 5 2/3 innings in his first home start.

Mark Hallberg led off the home sixth with a home run, just his second of the season and first since May 1, to give the home side a 3-1 edge. Sosa doubled with one out to chase Kintzler from the game after he had yielded three runs on seven hits, while fanning two. Drew Anderson's monstrous home run over the clubhouse building beyond the right field wall with two outs in the seventh pulled the visitors back to within a run. Bobby Bramhall threw 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings behind Kintzler to grab his first win since June 25.

The series continues Thursday night with right-hander Mike Jones taking the mound for the Stars against BayBears right-hander Wes Roemer. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Southern League Stories from August 12, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central