Stars' Bullpen Sparks 5-2 Win over Bears

Published on August 19, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mobile, AL - The Stars' bullpen, overworked and underpaid, keeps coming up with the goods. Ryan Miller and Mike Adams combined for five shutout innings of relief, and Huntsville scored three in the seventh for a 5-2 win over Mobile on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. The playoff-bound Stars (32-25, 72-53) have won five of their last six and remain one-half game behind Birmingham in the Southern League West second-half standings.

Entering the game in a 2-2 tie, Miller shut down the Bears, retiring eight of the nine batters he faced. After Miller allowed a one-out walk to Todd Donovan in the fifth, Donovan was caught stealing. Miller efficiently set down the next seven batters, fanning two, to face the minimum over three innings, and only one ball left the infield during the stretch.

Huntsville broke the tie with a three-run seventh, sparked by Miller's own clutch base hit. Brandon Gemoll led off with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. With one out, Brad Nelson was intentionally walked, then Mike Kremblas flied to center. Miller batted with two on and two out and smoked a 3-2 pitch back to the mound. The ball caromed toward the first-base dugout off pitcher Chris Rojas' leg, and Gemoll was waved home while Nelson raced to third. Gemoll scored as Jon Knott's throw home sailed over the catcher's head, and Miller steamed into second. Alejandro Machado doubled over the third-base bag, scoring both Nelson and Miller for a 5-2 Stars lead.

"It was Miller's night," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said. "The key to the game was Miller's at-bat. He threw three shutout innings then got the big hit.

Adams took care of the rest, permitting just a bloop single and walk over the final two frames, fanning three. Adams recorded his 14th save and second in the series, while Miller (1-7) secured his first win. Rojas (5-10) suffered a tough loss, giving up five runs, two earned, on six hits and one walk over 6 2/3 innings.

Huntsville pits righty Ben Hendrickson against Bears right-hander Justin Germano (1-3, 3.65) in the finale of the four-game series Tuesday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game show starts at 6:50 p.m. 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 August 19, 2003


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