Mudcats Rally Late to Down Stars

Published on June 24, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Alberto Concepcion scored the game-winning run on a throwing error in the bottom half of the eighth inning, as Carolina came back to defeat Huntsville 9-8 Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game set at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 4-3 in the second half and 42-35 overall, while the Stars dipped to 3-4 in the second half and 44-33 overall. Carolina has won five of the six meetings this year with four of the five wins by either one or two runs.

Omar Aguilar opened the hill for the Stars in the eighth with a one-run lead. John Raynor and Cameron Maybin singled to begin the frame before Chris Coghlan struck out and Gaby Sanchez fouled out for the second out. Concepcion reached on an infield single on a diving stop up the middle by second baseman Mike Bell to load the bases. Mayerson then singled into center field to plate Raynor and Maybin to tie the game. Concepcion was on his way to third base when Michael Brantley's throw from the outfield hit him and caromed away into foul territory in left field allowing Concepcion to slide in with the go-ahead run. Chris Mobley came on to strike out all three hitters he faced in the ninth to preserve the win and earn his 11th save of the season and third against the Stars. Aguilar suffered his third loss since joining the team and his second in as many outings.

The Stars battled back from a 6-5 deficit to score three runs in the top half of the eighth on consecutive run-producing hits by Brantley, Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel. Mudcats' reliever Carlos Martinez, who gave up all three runs, was taken out with an injury after falling behind Angel Salome two balls and no strikes. Jacob Marceaux came on to get the Huntsville catcher to ground out to end the inning and pick up the win.

Josh Johnson, making the first of two scheduled rehab starts in the series, retired the Stars in order in the first inning before Salome led off the second inning with a double, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Matt LaPorta sacrifice fly. The Mudcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but could not score after Johnson took a called third strike and Raynor flied out to end the frame.

Stars' starter Derek Miller was lifted after three scoreless innings during which he gave up three hits, walked two and struck out one. Joe Bateman took over and issued two walks around a Mayerson single that loaded the bases for Johnson, again. This time, the pitcher helped his own cause with a ground out that scored Mayerson with the tying run.

Cole Gillespie led off the fifth with an infield single, stole second base, advanced to third on a Mike Bell ground out and scored on a single by Chris Errecart, who then moved up on a Bateman bunt and scored to make it 3-1 on a fielding error by Concepcion, the first baseman. The Stars added another run in the sixth when Game l led off with a double and scored on a single by Salome, who has knocked in a run in five of his last six games. Johnson retired LaPorta on a fly ball for the first out and was lifted after reaching his pitch limit and was charged with four runs, three earned, on six hits. Jeff Gogal took over and gave up a double to Gillespie that pushed Salome to third. However, the Stars could not add to their lead as Bell grounded out, Errecart was passed intentionally and Bateman fouled out.

Mayerson led off the home half of the inning with a single and Bateman issued walks to Brett Hayes and Kris Harvey to load the bases before being taken out and replaced by Patrick Ryan, who gave up a pinch-hit, three-run double to Andy Jenkins that tied the game at four. Maybin doubled with one out to drive in Jenkins and then scored on a Game l throwing error with two outs to make it 6-4 Mudcats.

The series continues on Wednesday night with southpaw David Welch taking the hill against Mudcats' right-hander Rick Vanden Hurk. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 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 June 24, 2008


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