Stars Come From Behind to Down Smokies

Published on July 2, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Michael Garciaparra doubled home the the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning and the bullpen logged seven innings to carry Huntsville past Tennessee 4-3 Thursday night in the fifth of a six-game set at Smokies Park. The Stars improved to 7-4 in the second half and pushed their lead in the North Division to two games over the Smokies, who fell to 5-7 in the second half and 37-44 overall. The Stars are now 45-35 overall with 23 of their wins decided by either one or two runs.

Stars' starter Josh Butler threw two scoreless innings and was lifted with an injury after his first pitch to Mark Reed in the third inning was taken for ball one. Mike McClendon took over and gave up a single to Reed, who moved to second base on a Jay Jackson sacrifice bunt, to third on a passed ball and scored the game's first run when Jim Adduci bounced into a force out at second base. Marquez Smith followed with a double to plate Adduci to push the home team's lead to 2-0. Butler allowed one hit and struck out one after throwing 25 pitches.

Vinny Rottino singled with one out in the fourth, moved to second base on a Garciaparra base hit and scored on a Chuck Caufield single that cut the lead to 2-1. Jackson was lifted after four frames and 76 pitches, allowing four hits, walking two and fanning five. In the bottom half of the inning, Tyler Colvin singled with one out, moved to second base on a Reed single and was thrown out at the plate for the final out by Caufield on a Jackson single to left field.

JR Hopf's bases loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth off of Todd Blackford tied the game at two before the Smokies regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Colvin fielder's choice grounder and errant throw back to first base by Garciaparra that allowed Doug Deeds to score. Juan Sandoval took over for McClendon in the sixth and was charged with the run before he threw a perfect seventh inning to grab his first win since May 29 at Tennessee. McClendon had thrown three innings, giving up two runs on five hits, behind Butler.

Kevin Melillo doubled with two outs in the seventh before a walk to Rottino chased Blackford from the game. Alex Maestri took over and gave up the game-deciding hit to Garciaparra, who drove a 1-0 offering into the alley in right-center field for his first extra-base hit since joining the team. Blackford was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits.

Casey Baron took over for Sandoval and threw a scoreless eighth inning and was lifted after getting Colvin to fly out to begin the ninth. Rob Wooten came on to strike out Tony Thomas and pinch-hitter Blake Lalli to end the game and record his second save of the series. The four Huntsville relievers allowed three runs on eight hits, walked one and fanned three.

The series concludes Friday night with right-hander Nick Green starting for the Stars against Tennessee right-hander Marcos Mateo. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 2, 2009


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