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Stars and Smokies Split a Pair

July 12, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Sevierville, TN – Huntsville hurlers Matt Childers, Matt Parker and Ken Ray combined for a seven-inning one-hitter as the Stars defeated Tennessee, 2-0, to gain a split of Friday night's doubleheader at Smokies Park. Tennessee (15-5) captured game one of the twin bill, 3-1, with former Star Bucky Jacobsen delivering a clutch two-run single. The Stars (10-8) moved into a three-way tie for first in the Southern League West second-half standings.

Childers dominated in his first start of the season, surrendering just two walks over four no-hit innings in game two. Parker (6-3) picked up his second win with a scoreless fifth, allowing one hit and one walk, and Ray worked the sixth and seventh, retiring six in a row after the first batter he faced had reached on an error. Ray notched his second save this season. Tennessee's Rhett Parrot (6-9) suffered his ninth loss, giving up one run on two hits and three walks while fanning two over 5 1/3 innings.

The Stars' game-two offense came in the sixth and seventh. Barnwell led off the sixth with a walk and raced to third on pinch-hitter Alejandro Machado's single to right-center, his first hit as a Star. Richard Paz lofted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Barnwell for a 1-0 lead. In the seventh, Ryan Gripp launched a solo homer, his third of the season, against a team that had him briefly during spring training this year.

"I felt surprisingly good today after the all-star break," Gripp said. "I was looking for a fastball early in the count. I got it out front a little but got enough of it to get it out.

The Smokies' decisive game-one rally saddled Huntsville starter Pedro Liriano with his league-high 10th loss. With a runner at first and two outs in the third, Corey Hart hesitated on a ground ball hit to his left. He glanced at second, and his throw to first was late as John Nelson legged out an infield single. Caonabo Cosme drew a walk to load the bases, and Jacobsen lined Liriano's 2-2 pitch into right-center for a two-run single and a 2-0 Smokies lead.

Noochie Varner provided the Stars' lone run in game one, ripping a fourth-inning double to left that scored Brandon Gemoll to cut the deficit to 2-1. Skip Schumaker slammed a solo homer in the fifth for a 3-1 Smokies lead.

Nick Stocks (7-4) picked up the win in game one, giving up one run on seven hits while striking out three over five innings. Liriano (5-10) suffered the loss, permitting three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five frames. Mike Lyons recorded his league-best 24th save, fanning one in a perfect seventh.

In Saturday's game three of the series, Stars righty Ben Hendrickson (3-1, 2.77) meets Smokies right-hander Julio Villalon (3-0, 1.95). Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-Game Show starts at 6:00 p.m. CT. Stars baseball can be heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 12, 2003


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