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Stars Drop Fourth Straight, 9-4

August 5, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Mobile scored four in the first and never looked back, knocking out 16 hits and taking the first of a five-game series with Huntsville, 9-4, on Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars (22-20) and Bay Bears (22-20) are tied for second, one game back of Birmingham in the Southern League West second-half chase. Huntsville has now lost four straight games, one short of its season-high.

Mobile reached Stars starter Pedro Liriano for nine earned runs on 11 hits, including two homers, one a three-run, first-inning shot by Bobby Scales, just his third of the year. Jake Gautreau added a solo shot in the third, his 11th of the season. Freddy Guzman paced the Bears attack, rapping four singles, drawing a walk, stealing a base and scoring two runs. Jon Knott finished 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.

For its part, Huntsville's offense banged out 12 hits, but the Stars stranded 11 runners. Brandon Gemoll led the barrage of base hits with three singles, two runs batted in and his 11th homer, a solo drive that tied him for the club lead. Alejandro Machado was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in, and Corey Hart, the reigning Southern League Hitter of the Week, went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.

Encapsulating their frustration with runners on base, the Stars, trailing 7-4, could not score after loading the bases with none out in the fifth. Noochie Varner fouled out down the rightfield line, as Rico Washington lunged across the tarp to make an outstanding catch. Kade Johnson then fouled out to Washington in front of the first-base dugout. The final out came on Brad Nelson's failed attempt to steal home.

Mobile's all-star lefty Cory Stewart (11-6) tied for the league-lead with his 11th victory, scattering 12 hits, two walks and one hit batter, allowing just four runs and fanning three over six innings. Liriano's two-game winning streak ended with 5 1/3 difficult innings. Liriano (7-11) suffered a league-high 11th loss, permitting nine runs, all earned, on 11 hits, four walks and one hit batter with five strikeouts. Huntsville's Ken Ray authored 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, giving up five hits and three walks while fanning four.

Huntsville and Mobile play two Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Game one completes a suspended game from July 7, when rain came in the top of the third with Mobile leading, 7-0. Mobile is batting with a runner at second and one out. Stars righty Ryan Miller (0-6, 3.53) pitches the suspended game for Huntsville, and lefty Roger Deago (6-7, 4.17) goes for the Bears. In the scheduled game, right-hander Jason Shelley (2-0, 2.00) faces Mobile righty Chris Oxspring (8-3, 3.07). Game one begins at 6:05 p.m.



Southern League Stories from August 5, 2003


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