Stars and Bears Split a Lengthy Pair

August 6, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release

Huntsville, AL – Sixteen innings of baseball, more than six hours at the park, completion of a suspended game nearly a month old, and a scheduled seven-inning contest that lasted 12. Other that that, it was a normal Tuesday at Joe Davis Stadium. One other thing, the Stars (23-21) and Bay Bears (23-21) ended up right where they started, in a dead heat for second place behind Birmingham, though they did pull within one-half game of the Barons' lead in the Southern League West. Mobile won the suspended contest, 8-2, and Huntsville rallied for two in the 12th to beat the Bears, 4-3, in the nightcap.

The suspended game began in the top of the third with Mobile up, 7-0. Three Mobile pitchers, Roger Deago, Mike Bumstead and Bryan Gaal, combined to allow just two runs, one earned, over the final seven innings. Deago (7-7) grabbed his seventh victory, permitting both runs over four innings, giving up just two hits and one walk while fanning three. Ben Hendrickson (5-4) – who threw all his pitches when the game began back on July 6 – suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs on nine hits and two walks over 2 1/3 innings.

In the scheduled game, the Bears' Jon Knott tied the club's single-season homerun record with a two-run, first-inning homer, his 22nd of the year. Huntsville's spirited rally tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Alejandro Machado led off with a single and stole second with two outs. Brandon Gemoll doubled to left-center, scoring Machado with the Stars' first run. Noochie Varner singled home pinch-runner Ryan Knox for a 2-2 tie.

In the top of the 12th, a Machado two-base throwing error led to an unearned run, as Humberto Quintero grounded a two-out double over the first-base bag, scoring Bobby Scales from second for a 3-2 Bears lead. In the bottom of the frame, Brad Nelson and Mike Kremblas rapped back-to-back, first-pitch singles to center, and pinch-hitter Chris Barnwell dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Scales fielded but threw the ball up the rightfield line, scoring Nelson and sending Barnwell and Kremblas to second and third. One out later, Machado received an intentional walk, then J.J. Hardy hit a chopper over Scales' head at third to drive in Kremblas for a 4-3 Stars win.

Matt Parker (8-5) notched his seventh win, giving up an unearned run on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Rusty Tucker (2-5) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on three hits and one walk while recording one out in the ninth.

Huntsville and Mobile return to the field Wednesday night for the fourth of a five-game series, when lefty Jeff Housman (3-0,1.45) meets Bears righty Duncan McAdoo (3-7, 4.75). Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Southern League Stories from August 6, 2003

• Barons Hammer Suns, 8-5 - Birmingham Barons
• Braves Down Rays 6-1 - Orlando Rays
• Suns fall despite 6 Barons errors - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• G-Braves Rock Rays - Mississippi Braves
• Stars and Bay Bears Rained Out Wednesday Night - Huntsville Stars
• James Jurries Named Topps SL Player of the Month - Mississippi Braves
• Develop More, Pay Less - SL1
• Deja Vu: Suns win again, 5-1 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• Stars and Bears Split a Lengthy Pair - Huntsville Stars
• BayBears and Stars split marathon double header - Mobile BayBears
• Barons Drop One to Suns, 5-1 - Birmingham Barons

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

• Chattanooga Hangs on to Eliminate Stars
• Stars Force Game Five with Shutout
• Late Hit Leads Lookouts to Win
• Series Moves to Chattanooga
• Stars One Hit Lookouts to Even Series