Stars Fall 2-1 to Barons
June 19, 2004 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Birmingham, AL â With both starting pitchers putting up zeros, the Stars and Barons played a taut, tense game typical of the Southern League's most heated rivalry. On Friday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Birmingham (34-33) edged Huntsville, 2-1, to send the Stars (31-37) to their eighth loss in nine games.
The game turned on three miscues, the last helping the Barons score the winning run. Birmingham jumped in front in the first after a two-out walk to Michael Morse. Dennis Sarfate's balk put Morse in scoring position, and Brian Becker grounded a single up the middle to plate Morse for a 1-0 Barons lead.
In the second, a Birmingham hiccup tied the game. Following consecutive one-out singles by Ryan Knox and Chris Barnwell, Eduardo Villacis' pick-off throw to first sailed up the rightfield line, scoring Knox and sending Barnwell to third. Johnny Raburn popped to short and Ozzie Chavez flied deep to right to strand Barnwell at third.
Villacis seized control of the game from there, retiring the final 14 batters he faced. He permitted only two singles, walked none and fanned five while throwing 87 pitches over six innings. Villacis left with the score tied, 1-1.
Sarfate matched Villacis and carried the Stars into the seventh, regularly reaching 92-93 miles per hour with his fastball, but his own error handed Birmingham the go-ahead run. With one out in the frame, Sarfate walked Chris Stewart to start a Barons rally. Michael Spidale then hit a sharp ground ball that caromed off Sarfate's foot, bouncing back toward the plate. Sarfate pounced on the ball, but his throw sailed into the runner, glancing off Spidale and bouncing down the line into the Barons' bullpen. Stewart scored all the way from first to put Birmingham up, 2-1.
The combination of relievers Brian McNichol, Matt Smith and Jeff Bajenaru slammed the door on the Stars. McNichol (3-1) secured his third win, fanning one and walking one over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Smith recorded the final out of the eighth, and Bajenaru stumbled in the ninth but survived. He surrendered Joel Alvarado's leadoff walk and Tony Gwynn Jr.'s one-out single before retiring Prince Fielder and Brad Nelson with the tying run at second to notch his 10th save. Sarfate (3-7) suffered a tough loss, scattering nine hits and allowing only two runs, one earned, with two walks and four strikeouts while throwing 111 pitches over seven innings.
Huntsville lefty Matt Ford (1-1, 3.96) meets Barons left-hander Ryan Meaux (2-5, 5.13) in game three of the series Saturday night at the Met. Game time is 7:00 p.m. The FPH Financial Services Pre-game Show starts at 6:45 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com.
Southern League Stories from June 19, 2004
- Stars Fall to Birmingham, 6-1 - Huntsville Stars
- Diamond Jaxx defeat Carolina 9-0 - Carolina Mudcats
- G-Braves Fall Short to Lookouts 4-2 - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Clinch Championship - Knoxville Smokies
- Suns flinch, Smokies clinch - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Stars Fall 2-1 to Barons - Huntsville Stars
- Biscuits and BayBears Rained Out - Montgomery Biscuits
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