Nelson, Pitching Hurls Stars To Victory

Published on May 12, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


In their series opener of a five-game set at Trustmark Park, three Huntsville Stars pitchers held a red-hot Mississippi Braves offense to just four hits en route to a 2-1 victory on Sunday.

Headlining the performances from the Stars battery was starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who gave up just one run and four hits through six innings while striking out eight batters just six days after his worst start of the season against the Jackson Generals.

Following a solo homer from Stars outfielder Rene Tosoni in the second inning off of M-Braves starting pitcher Cody Martin, Nelson gave up his only run in the second, which just so happened to be unearned.

With one out, Mississippi left fielder Kyle Russell reached on an error by Nelson on a slow-chopper back to the pitchers mound in which Russell advanced to second on an errant throw. After advancing to third on a groundout from right fielder Jose Martinez, Russell then scored on a wild pitch from Nelson for the M-Braves only run of the game.

Nelson was put in line for the win in the sixth inning when the Stars scored their final run of the game to take the lead for good. After right fielder Kentrail Davis began the inning with a triple, he was brought home by a sacrifice fly from first basemen Jason Rogers. For Rogers, the run batted in was his ninth over the last six games.

After Nelson exited the game before the seventh, Stars righty Casey Medlen threw two scoreless innings, including one where he stranded the bases loaded in the eighth. Reliever Greg Holle then sent down the M-Braves in order in the ninth for his second save of the season.

For Nelson, the win improves his record to 4-2 on the season while dropping his ERA to 2.36.

On offense, the Stars were lead by Tosoni, who increased his hit-streak to nine games with a 2-for-4 night at the plate. The nine-game hit streak for Tosoni is the longest for any Stars player this season.

Aside from the sixth inning triple from Davis, second basemen Nick Shaw had the only other hit of the night with a double in the third inning.

The victory for Huntsville improves their record away from Joe Davis Stadium to 9-7 this season.

In game two of a five-game series on Monday, the Stars will send RHP Ariel Pena (3-2, 2.75 ERA) to the bump. Pena is coming off a start where he threw six scoreless innings and struck out a season-high ten batters against the Jackson Generals on May 8th.

Pena will square off against M-Braves RHP J.R Graham (1-3, 4.28 ERA). First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

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Southern League Stories from May 12, 2013


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