Stars Drop Final Post-season Tune-up

September 1, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Chattanooga, TN - The Stars' final tune-up for the post-season brought good news about an all-star and a new flame-thrower to the pitching staff. After a couple days off, centerfielder Dave Krynzel returned to the lineup and ripped a pair of singles, and newcomer Chris Saenz impressed in a lengthy relief stint, but the Lookouts salvaged a split of the season-ending four-game series, tripping Huntsville, 4-2, on Labor Day at Bell South Park.

Huntsville (35-35) now prepares to host Birmingham in game one of the Southern League Western Division Championship Series Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

Wilmy Careras greeted Stars starter Jason Shelley with a first-inning two-run homer, and the Lookouts added an unearned run in the third against Saenz, who made his Huntsville debut. The Stars played catch-up the rest of the way, and Chattanooga starter Steve Kelly throttled Huntsville over eight strong innings.

Kelly (4-2) secured his second win, surrendering just one run on eight hits while walking one and fanning three. Huntsville's lone run came in the second, when Brandon Gemoll singled and Brad Nelson doubled off the left-centerfield wall, scoring Gemoll to trim the Lookouts' lead to 2-1.

Chattanooga's third-inning run, plus another against Saenz in the eighth, proved to be the difference. Down 4-1, the Stars rallied for one in the ninth on pinch-hitter Noochie Varner's run-scoring single, and the tying runs were left on base when Krynzel lined out and Chris Barnwell flied out to end the game.

Shelley (3-2) suffered his second straight loss, allowing two runs on two hits while fanning two in a two-inning tune-up for his game-three start in the playoffs. Saenz, coming to Huntsville after a season in advanced-A High Desert's starting rotation, fanned six while giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks over six innings. Bard Salmon recorded his first save for the Lookouts, permitting one run on two hits in the ninth.

Huntsville takes Tuesday off before meeting Birmingham in the first round of the playoffs. The opener of the best-of-five Western Division Championship Series starts at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Stars righty Ben Hendrickson (7-6, 3.45) meets Barons right-hander Enemencio Pacheco (12-2, 2.56). A fireworks extravaganza follows the game courtesy of Woody Anderson Ford.



Southern League Stories from September 1, 2003


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