Sports stats

Smokies Turn on Power and Shut Down Stars

July 5, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Kevin Hart and Grant Johnson combined on a two-hit shutout and Tennessee blasted four home runs in an 8-0 blanking of Huntsville Thursday night in the second of a four-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Smokies improved to 10-8 in the second half and 46-40 overall but remain one game behind North Division leading Chattanooga, which won at Mississippi , while the Stars slumped to 7-11 in the second half and 44-42 overall.

The visitors plated the game's first run in the first inning when Sam Fuld, singled, stole second, moved to third on a Jorge Cortes single and came home on a Matt Craig sacrifice fly. It marked the third time in three home starts that Will Inman has been scored on in the first inning. Craig extended the lead to 2-0 with a home run in the third and Jake Fox's league-best 17th long ball in the fifth pushed the Smokies' lead to 3-0. Inman then gave up back-to-back singles to Casey McGehee and Cates before being taken out of the game and replaced by David Johnson. Inman suffered the loss and dropped to 1-4 after giving up three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.

Jemel Spearman led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit home run and Tyler Colvin crushed a three-run bomb to left-center field to make it 7-0. It was Colvin's first round tripper at the double-A level and the second time the Stars have allowed four homers in a game.

Hart gave up a single to Hernan Iribarren, the first batter he faced, and did not allow a hit the rest of the way in his six innings of work. He struck out Steve Sollmann, Lou Palmisano and Brendan Katin in succession with runners at first and second and nobody out in the sixth while it was still a 3-0 game. Johnson allowed a leadoff single to Katin in the seventh and went three scoreless afterwards to earn his first save. He struck out one and walked two.

The series continues Friday night with Huntsville southpaw Derek Miller making his double-A debut against Smokies' right-hander Mark Holliman, who no-hit the Stars on June 21. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from July 5, 2007


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.

Other Recent Huntsville Stars Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central