Stars Defeat Smokies, 4-3

Published on July 13, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Sevierville, TN – On a night when they struck out a season-high 16 times, the Stars still found a way to win, even without their skipper and two of their top players. Starter Ben Hendrickson authored six shutout innings, and Huntsville's offense produced a handful of clutch hits to prevail over Tennessee, 4-3, on Saturday night at Smokies Park. The Stars (11-8) moved into sole possession of first place in the Southern League West second-half standings.

Stars manager Frank Kremblas, shortstop J.J. Hardy and centerfielder Dave Krynzel left earlier in the day, bound for Chicago and Sunday's All-Star Futures Game. Huntsville's patchwork lineup featured Richard Paz in rightfield, his first appearance in the outfield since 1999, when he was a member of the Frederick Keys, Baltimore's affiliate in the high-A Carolina League.

Through the first five frames, the Stars' makeshift crew had not advanced a runner past first base. With nine strikeouts over five innings, Smokies starter Julio Villalon was in command. Exhibiting a nasty slider, Villalon at one point fanned five out of six hitters from the first through the third.

Huntsville finally broke through in the sixth, when Alejandro Machado spurred a rally, lacing Villalone's 2-1 pitch for a double down the leftfield line. Chris Barnwell drew a walk, and Richard Paz struck out. Corey Hart followed with a bloop-single to right, scoring Machado and sending Barnwell to third. With Hart running from first, Brandon Gemoll fanned on a 3-2 pitch, and Hart was gunned down at second to end the threat.

The Stars broke the game open in the seventh. Noochie Varner led off with a triple down the rightfield line, and Darryl Clark singled Varner home to knock Villalon out of the game. Kade Johnson struck out against reliever Josh Axelson – the Stars' 12th strikeout of the game – and Ryan Gripp pinch-hit for Hendrickson. On a 2-2 pitch, Gripp launched a two-run bomb to dead-centerfield, clearing the wall more than 400 feet from home plate. It was Gripp's fourth homerun and second in as many days.

"I had a lot of fun coaching third," said Stars hitting coach Sandy Guerrero, "getting to see things from the other side of the field. We missed a few signs, but we got some key base hits and big pinch-hit homer from (Ryan) Gripp.

The Smokies rebounded with an unearned run in the seventh against reliever Brian Adams, then Papo Bolivar ripped a one-out, two-run homer against Matt Parker in the ninth. Parker settled down, retiring the final two batters on fly balls to seal the 4-3 victory.

Hendrickson (4-1) notched his fourth win, giving up just four hits and one walk while fanning four over six scoreless innings, and Villalon (3-1) suffered his first loss, surrendering three earned runs on five hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts, a personal season-high. Adams allowed only the unearned run on three hits and one walk with one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings, and Parker picked up his fifth save, giving up two runs on one hit and one walk over 1 1/3 innings.

In Sunday's series finale, Huntsville matches righty Mike Adams (3-4, 3.53) against Smokies lefty Juan Pena (3-3, 3.47). Game time is 4:00 p.m. CT. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-Game Show starts at 3:45 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 13, 2003


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