Parrott Pitches Smokies Past Stars

Published on May 12, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Right-hander Rhett Parrott introduced himself to the Huntsville Stars Monday night. Emphatically. Parrott's eight outstanding innings led the Smokies to a 5-1 victory over the Stars at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville's lead in the Southern League West Division shrunk to four games.

Parrott allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base. Ryan Knox walked and Dave Krynzel singled Knox to third. Richard Paz plated Knox with a dunker into shallow right-center. When Chris Weekly came up empty on a sliding attempt to catch the blooper, Knox trotted home, but Weekly alertly threw to second to force out Krynzel, who had to stop halfway in case the ball was caught. Corey Hart bounced into an inning-ending double play, and Parrot settled in.

Parrott retired seven straight hitters before a third-inning single by Knox. Parrott then mowed down another seven in a row before J.J. Hardy pinch-hit in the sixth and drew a walk. Parrott capped his longest outing of the year by setting down the final eight batters he faced, fanning Chris Barnwell and Ryan Miller to cap the eighth.

Tennessee got all the runs it needed in the fourth. With two outs, former Star Bucky Jacobsen walked and Papo Bolivar singled. Yadier Molina hit a fly ball down the rightfield line, and Knox overran it. He recovered to get a glove on the ball, but it caromed behind him. Two runs scored and Molina reached second on the two-base error. John Nelson delivered a triple to right-center, plating Molina for a 3-1 Smokies lead.

In the fifth, Jacobsen delivered his second big blow in the series – he won Saturday's game with a run-scoring, ninth-inning single. With two one and two outs, Jacobsen flicked his wrists and slammed a double ball off the centerfield wall, scoring both runners to make it 5-1, Tennessee. Jacobsen finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, two runs batted in and one run scored.

Parrott (2-3) picked up his second win, allowing just three singles and two walks while fanning six over eight frames. Luis Martinez (4-2) suffered his second loss, surrendering a season-high five runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks with six strikeouts in six innings. Stars reliever Ryan Miller threw three scoreless innings, permitting just one hit and two walks while fanning one.

Huntsville righty Pedro Liriano (3-2, 2.82) meets Smokies right-hander Dan Haren (5-0, 0.94) in the series finale Tuesday at Joe Davis Stadium. Game time is 12:05 p.m.

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Southern League Stories from May 12, 2003


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