Stars Fall in Last Game Before the Break

Published on July 11, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Alberto Bastardo tossed seven solid innings and Adam Godwin drove in three runs to push Chattanooga past Huntsville 7-3 Saturday night in the last of a four-game set at AT&T Field. The Lookouts earned a series split to improve to 9-10 in the second half and 39-49 overall, while Stars dropped to 9-11 in the second half and 47-42 overall as they head into the three-day All-Star break. The Lookouts claimed the season series ten games to nine, winning five of nine in Chattanooga.

Bastardo had retired nine batters in a row before Jonathan Lucroy doubled with two outs in the fourth. Taylor Green then tapped a ground ball to third that Josh Bell fielded but his one-hop throw to first base skipped away from Eddy Perez and allowed Lucroy to score the game's first run, marking the third straight game that the Stars had tallied first.

Lucas May singled with one out in the home fourth, moved to second base on a walk to Russ Mitchell and scored to tie the game on a Perez single that also advanced Mitchell to third base. Godwin then legged out an infield hit that pushed across Mitchell with the go-ahead run. Bastardo and James Tomlin opened the home fifth with singles and scored when Ramon Nivar doubled into centerfield to make it 4-1 and chase starter David Welch from the game. The southpaw was charged with four runs on eight hits, while walking two and fanning three. He suffered the loss to fall to 4-7 and 0-3 in three turns against the Lookouts.

Bastardo issued back-to-back one out walks in the sixth but worked out of trouble by getting two ground ball outs to end the inning. Kevin Melillo's home run, his second in as many days, in the seventh cut the Looks' lead to two before Bastardo retired the next two hitters to end the inning and his night. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits, walking a pair and fanning five in his longest double-A outing. Bastardo improved to 2-1 and equaled his mark at 1-1 against the Stars.

Tim Corcoran took over for the Looks in the eighth and gave up a double to Shane Justis, who then advanced to third on a throwing error by Bell that allowed Michael Garciaparra to reach safely. Corcoran was lifted for the lefty-tossing James Adkins, who got the lefty-swinging Drew Anderson to fly out to left field, deep enough to score Justis to cut the lead to 4-3. Matt Sartor then came on to get Green to line out and Vinny Rottino to bounce into a force play at second base to end the inning.

Chattanooga tacked on three runs in the eighth against Juan Sandoval, highlighted by Godwins's two-run double. Victor Garate threw a scoreless ninth to close out the game.

The Stars resume play after the All-Star break Wednesday night in the opener of a five-game series at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from July 11, 2009


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