Late Run Leads Smokies to Victory

Published on April 30, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


James Aducci doubled in the winning run in the sixth inning and the bullpen blanked Huntsville over the final 5 1/3 frames Thursday night in Tennessee's 7-6 in the series opener at Joe Davis Stadium. The Smokies won their second straight to improve to 11-9 and lengthen their lead to a game and a half over the Stars, who dropped a fourth straight to fall to 10-11. The Stars have now played 12 games decided by one run and all but three of their games have been decided by three runs or less.

Huntsville loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth against Alex Maestri in a tie game but could not score after Chris Errecart flied out to shallow right field and Yohannis Perez grounded out. Mike McClendon, who took over for Jeremy Jeffress with the bases loaded and one out in the third and retired the first 10 batters he faced, gave up a Tony Thomas single with two outs in the sixth before Adduci followed with his second two-base hit of the year to drive in the decisive run. McClendon set down the next four hitters to close his 4 2/3 innings performance, the longest for a Stars' reliever this season. Maestri threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to grab his first win of the season.

Marquez Smith, in his first double-A at-bat, singled in two runs with two outs in the first against Jeffress, who has been scored on in the first inning in all three starts at home. The Smokies tacked on four more in the third to push their lead to 6-0 on a Blake Lalli run-scoring hit, a passed ball, a bases loaded walk to Brandon Guyer that chased Jeffress and a Casey Lambert ground out. Jeffress was charged with six runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out four in his shortest outing of the season.

Lambert retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before Kevin Melillo's one out walk in the fourth jump started a six-run rally, the Stars' highest scoring inning of the season. Jonathan Lucroy doubled in a run and Chris Errecart's fielder's choice grounder drove in another before Perez snapped an 0-for-13 drought with a two-run double to trim the lead to 6-4. Adam Stern then delivered a two-out, two-run single to tie the game and chase Lambert after 3 2/3 innings of work during which he was charged with six runs, three earned, on six hits.

Jeremy Papelbon followed Maestri with two scoreless innings and Blake Parker blanked the Stars for two innings to record his third save.

The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Chris Cody taking the hill for the Stars against Smokies' right-hander Marcus Mateo. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from April 30, 2009


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