Stars Drop Series Finale, 3-1

July 18, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mobile, AL – It never hurts to have a little luck, especially in a game of inches. While Mobile starter Chris Rojas quieted Huntsville's resurgent offense, the Bay Bears used three perfectly placed ground balls to defeat the Stars, 3-1, on Thursday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. After splitting a four-game series, the Stars (13-11, 53-39) and Bears (13-11, 42-50) are one-half game behind leader Birmingham in the Southern League West second-half race.

The Bears broke up a scoreless tie with the first of three well-placed hits. Stars starter Ben Hendrickson retired the first nine batters he faced, but two walks set the table for Jake Gautreau with two outs in the fourth. Gautreau swung at the first pitch and sent a seeing-eye bouncer right over the first-base bag. The ball rolled into the bullpen for a double, plating both runners for a 2-0 Bears lead.

In the fifth, Mobile scored without getting a ball out of the infield. J.J. Furmaniak walked and Kevin Reinking struck out, then Rojas sacrificed Furmaniak to second. Bobby Scales hit a grounder between short and third, and shortstop Chris Barnwell's diving stop saved a run. Scales' infield-single advanced Furmaniak to third, and Vince Faison followed with a dribbler up the first-base line. Hendrickson let the ball roll, and it veered toward the chalk then straightened out, staying centered on the white dust until it came to rest halfway up the line. Faison's swinging bunt scored Furmaniak to put Mobile up, 3-0.

Huntsville rallied in the eighth against reliever Bryan Gall, as Alejandro Machado singled on the infield and took third on Dave Krynzel's line-drive single to left-center. Daryl Clark hit a slow roller to short, where Furmaniak let it go right through his legs for an error, scoring Machado and leaving runners at first and second. Krynzel and Clark pulled off a double steal, but Corey Hart fouled out to first. Gall struck out Brandon Gemoll to end the inning.

Rusty Tucker fanned two in a perfect ninth for his 24th save. Rojas (5-6) picked up the win, giving up just two hits and one walk while fanning five over 5 1/3 scoreless frames. Hendrickson (4-2) suffered his second loss, permitting three runs on five hits and three walks with a season-high eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Huntsville returns home to face West Tenn in the first of a four-game series Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Stars righty Ryan Miller (0-4, 3.10) meets Diamond Jaxx right-hander Mike Nannini (7-5, 4.03). Game time is 7:05 p.m. Bill Penney Toyota presents a Miguel Tejada bobblehead doll to the first 1500 fans in attendance and a fireworks spectacular after the game.



Southern League Stories from July 18, 2003


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