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Stars and Rays Notch 6-5 Wins at the Joe

April 10, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


April 9, 2003 – After going to bed knowing they had let a ninth-inning lead slip away, the Stars finished off Tuesday's suspended game with a flourish, scoring twice in the bottom of the 14th for a walk-off, 6-5 win over Orlando at Joe Davis Stadium. In Wednesday's regularly scheduled game, the Rays (4-3) held off a late Huntsville (3-4) charge for a dramatic 6-5 victory.

With temperatures in the low 40s and wind-chill factor in the 30s, the level of play in both contests was remarkable. Outfielder Cristian Guerrero made two potentially game-saving catches in extra innings of the game that had been postponed by rain on Tuesday at 4-4 in the 10th. After the Rays finally broke through for a run in the top of the 14th, it looked like Orlando's closer Evan Rust would pick up his second save of the series.

Instead, the Stars mounted a spirited rally in the bottom of the inning, beginning with Chris Cosbey's leadoff walk. Rust helped Huntsville with an errant pick-off attempt to first that bounced into the rightfield bullpen, sending Cosbey all the way third. Ryan Knox dunked a single into right to plate Cosbey with the tying run. Guerrero's groundout advanced Knox to second and J.J. Hardy was intentionally walked. Corey Hart struck out, but Ryan Gripp delivered a ground-single to right to score Knox easily with the winning run.

In the regularly scheduled contest, the Rays jumped to a lead of 4-0, only to see the Stars get two in the third on Cosbey's two-run double. Two Stars errors and a wild pitch helped Orlando score twice in the fifth for a 6-2 advantage.

In the eighth, Huntsville came roaring back. Cosbey led off with a single and Knox singled him to second. Richard Paz flied to center, but Hardy followed with a run-scoring single. Hart then lined a single to left, scoring Knox and leaving runners at first and second for Brandon Gemoll. Bartolome Fortunato relieved Travis Minix for the Rays, and Gemoll ripped his first pitch for a double into the right-centerfield alley. Hardy scored easily, but a tremendous relay by shortstop Jace Brewer cut down Hart at the plate, preserving a 6-5 Rays lead.

Fortunato secured his first save with a perfect ninth, making a winner of Jon Switzer (1-0), who allowed two runs on four hits while fanning six over six innings. Ben Hendrickson (1-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on eight hits in four frames. In the suspended contest, Matt Childers (1-0) notched his first win, giving up just one run in four solid innings of relief. Rust (0-1) took the loss, permitting two runs on two hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

The Stars resume play Friday night in Jacksonville at 6:35 p.m. CST against the Suns. Huntsville's Ben Diggins meets Jacksonville's Edwin Jackson.

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