Stars Comeback to Sweep Away Braves

Published on August 7, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Brendan Katin's two-run single capped off a four-run eighth inning rally that lifted Huntsville to a 7-5 come from behind win Tuesday night to complete a five-game series sweep over Mississippi at Trustmark Park. The Stars won their sixth straight game to push their second half record to 28-17 and their lead over Chattanooga in the North Division to three games, while the Braves slumped to14-31 in the second half and fell 15 games behind division leading Jacksonville in the South. The Stars claimed the season series by winning seven of the ten contests and left town with a 26-24 mark against the Braves since they relocated to Mississippi in 2005.

Steve Sollmann, hitless in his last 11 at-bats, started the winning rally with a bunt base hit, moved to second base on a walk to Adam Heether and to third base on a looping single to right field by Lou Palmisano that loaded the bases. Hernan Iribarren ripped a double down the right field line to chase home Sollmann and Heether to trim the Braves' lead to 5-4. Katin then ripped the first offering from Wes Wilkerson into center field for a base hit to give the visitors their first lead of the night and take over the league lead in RBI with 77. The Stars tacked on an unearned run in the ninth for the final margin.

David Johnson worked two scoreless innings to record his second save of the series and fourth since joining the Stars, who recorded a save in all five games. Huntsville won four times by two runs and once by a run to finish off their third five-game series sweep in the second half. Bo Hall worked a perfect sixth inning and EJ Shanks earned his first win at the double-A level with a perfect seventh inning in relief.

The Braves plated four runs in the second inning on run-producing hits by Mark Jurich and Clint Sammons and a two-run single by JC Holt against Stars' starter Sam Narron, who had allowed only four earned runs over his last five starts covering 35 2/3 frames. The southpaw allowed five runs, four earned, over five frames and has not lost since June 23 at Tennessee. He allowed eight hits, struck out one and issued his first walk in 38 innings when he put Kala Ka'aihue on with one out in the third.

Braves' starter Francisely Bueno allowed seven hits, all singles, did not walk a batter and did not allow a runner to advance past second base in his six shutout innings of work. He struck out four and left with a 5-0 lead but remains winless since July 3. Brad Nelson gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a pinch-hit run-scoring triple by Mel Stocker, who broke up an 82 at-bat drought without an extra-base hit, and a two-out, run-scoring single by Alcides Escobar, who left the game with an injury after being thrown out trying to steal to end the frame.

The Stars return home to begin a five-game series with Birmingham Wednesday night with right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill for Huntsville against Barons' left-hander Wes Whisler. Coverage begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com

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Southern League Stories from August 7, 2007


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