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Stars Clinch Second Half, Make History

September 2, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Lindsay Gulin worked six shutout innings and Alcides Escobar and Brendan Katin each delivered three run hits to power Huntsville to a 7-3 win over Birmingham Sunday in the fourth game of a season-ending five-game set at Regions Park. The Stars improved to 38-30 in the second half and clinched the second half North Division title after Tennessee fell at Carolina and became the first team in the 23-year history of the franchise to win both halves in the same season. The Stars have won three straight games for the first time since their eight-game win streak ended on August 10 at home against the Barons.

Barons' starter Kyle McCulloch walked Steve Sollmann to open the second inning, put Brendan Katin on with a free pass with one out and walked Michael Brantley to load the bases loaded with two outs before Escobar smacked a sharply hit ground ball just inside the third base bag down the left field line to chase home all three runners. Escobar pushed his hitting streak to eight straight games during which he has collected 12 hits. McCulloch, the White Sox first round choice last year, was lifted after two frames in his last start of the year after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks.

Steve Moss doubled in a run in the sixth and Brendan Katin seemingly ended any suspense with a line drive three-run home to center field in the seventh to push the visitors lead to 7-0. Katin took over sole possession of the league lead in home runs with 24 and pushed his league-best runs batted in total to 93. Katin has hit four of his home runs against the Barons.

Gulin gave up a pair of two-out singles in the first inning before retiring the next 10 batters he faced. Chris Kelly led off the fifth with a single before the veteran left-hander set down the next four batters. Gulin then issued back-to-back one out walks to Victor Mercedes and David Cook but finished his performance by retiring Shawn Garrett and Cory Aldridge to end the sixth inning. He allowed three hits, walked two and fanned six to earn his 12th win of the season. Gulin had not won since earning his seventh victory in a row at Mississippi on August 5th.

Bo Hall worked a scoreless seventh inning before Jeff Housman gave up three runs in the eighth on a David Cook sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Cory Aldridge and was lifted after recording only one out. Robert Hinton took over and retired Chris Kelly and Ricardo Nanita to end the threat. Luis Pena retired the side in order to close out the Stars' 11th victory in 19 games with Birmingham.

The series and regular season come to an end Monday afternoon with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill for the Stars against Barons' right-hander Jack Egbert. Coverage begins at 12:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from September 2, 2007


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