Stars and Lookouts Split Two

June 28, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Chattanooga, TN – With a barrage of hits in a seven-run rally, Huntsville salvaged a split of Friday's doubleheader at Bell South Park. The Stars (5-4, 45-32) routed Chattanooga, 9-2, in the nightcap after the Lookouts (3-7, 35-45) won game one, 10-4, in the completion of Thursday's suspended game.

Up 2-1 in the fourth, Huntsville's seven-run outburst decided game two. Daryl Clark led off with a single and took third on Mike Kremblas' single. Chris Barnwell lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Clark for a 3-1 advantage. Derek Lee dropped down a sacrifice bunt that pitcher Clayton Andrews booted for an error. With runners at first and second, Ryan Knox singled home Kremblas. Then Dave Krynzel lashed a double off the rightfield wall to score Lee and send Knox to third. Richard Paz walked to load the bases, and Corey Hart's sacrifice fly scored Knox and moved Krynzel to third. Ryan Gripp followed with a two-run double, and scored on two wild pitches from reliever Kris Keller for a 9-1 Stars lead.

Derek Lee (10-3) notched his league-high 10th win to become the fastest Star to 10 victories in a season over the Stars' 19-year history. Lee tossed Huntsville's second complete game this season, allowing just two runs on seven hits while fanning six and walking none over seven innings. Lee is one of seven Stars representing the West Division in the Southern League All-Star Game on July 8 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Clayton Andrews (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs, four earned, on nine hits and one walk over 3 1/3 innings.

In the completion of the suspended game, Lookouts right-hander Ryan Mottl was outstanding, retiring the first 22 batters he faced. After inheriting a 1-0 deficit and runners at first and third with none out in the first – that is where rain stopped play the day before – Mottl retired three straight Stars without further damage in the frame, inlcuding consecutive strikeouts of Brandon Gemoll and Noochie Varner. Mottl (3-4) faced the minimum through 7 1/3 innings before plunking Barnwell with a 1-1 pitch. Huntsville scored three in the eighth, but only one was earned, the result of an error by third baseman Santiago Perez. Mottl picked up his third win, allowing three runs on just three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. Pedro Liriano (5-8) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings.

Huntsville matches righty Mike Jones (6-2, 2.61) against Chattanooga right-hander Dustin Moseley (5-4, 3.88) in Saturday's series finale. Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game Show starts at 4:45 p.m. CT, with the first pitch at 5:00 p.m. CT. Stars baseball can be heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from June 28, 2003


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