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Stars Fall in Birmingham, 5-1

August 2, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Birmingham, AL – Huntsville ran into a tough customer Saturday night. The Barons finally got some runs for ace Neal Cotts, and the all-star lefty did the rest, three-hitting the Stars over seven shutout innings. Birmingham's 5-1 victory forged a tie for first with Huntsville in the Southern League West.

Cotts, a teammate of Huntsville's Ryan Knox at Illinois State, authored seven efficient frames, throwing 72 strikes among his 97 pitches. Cotts went to a three-ball count only three times, fanning seven and allowing just three singles. The only other baserunner against him reached on an error, and none advanced past first base. Cotts (9-6) snapped a personal four-game losing streak – he did not record a win in July – with his ninth victory and third in as many starts against Huntsville.

Leading 1-0, the Barons took control of the game in the fifth against Stars starter Dave Nolasco. Josh Shaffer walked and took second on Chad Durham's sacrifice bunt. Danny Sandoval drew a base on balls, and Jeremy Reed hit a come-backer to the mound. The ball deflected off Nolasco's glove past J.J. Hardy at short and trickled into shallow left. Shaffer scored, Sandoval raced to third and Reed legged out a double. Gabe Alavarez doubled to left-center, scoring both Sandoval and Reed. After Scott Bikowski singled Alvarez to third, Carlos Maldonado's sacrifice fly made it 5-0, Barons. Huntsville's Brad Nelson broke up the shutout with a two-out, run-scoring single in the ninth.

Nolasco (0-2) suffered his second loss in as many starts for Huntsville, permitting five runs on six hits, four walks and one hit batter with three strikeouts in five innings of work. Stars lefty Brian Adams tossed three scoreless frames of relief, giving up one hit and one walk while fanning one.

Huntsville and Birmingham conclude the brief two-game series Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Stars righty Ben Hendrickson (5-3, 2.57) meets Barons right-hander Enemencio Pacheco (9-2, 2.82). The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game Show starts at 5:45 p.m. Stars baseball can heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from August 2, 2003


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