Stars Fall to Barons, 6-3

Published on June 29, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – The Barons have a new player, and Huntsville felt his impact immediately. Jeremy Reed – chosen in the second round by Chicago White Sox last year – has played 11 games for Birmingham. His average is .463 after Sunday's 5-for-5 performance, his first against the Stars. Reed figured in two key rallies as the Barons beat Huntsville, 6-4, at Joe Davis Stadium.

Birmingham (7-4) grabbed an early lead against Stars starter Luis Martinez. Juan Piniella singled on the infield and took second on Reed's single, then Piniella and Reed pulled off a double steal. Gabe Alvarez's groundout scored Piniella with the game's first run. In the third, Jonathan Aceves singled and took second on a wild pitch. He reached third on Guillermo Reyes' groundout and scored on Danny Sandoval's single for a 2-0 Barons advantage.

Huntsville (6-5) took its only lead with a three-run fourth against Barons starter Enemencio Pacheco. Brandon Gemoll singled up the middle, and Noochie Varner launched a two-run homer to left, his second of the season. One out later, Richard Paz blooped a double to left and scored when Ryan Knox doubled off Alvarez's glove at third.

Trailing 3-2, the Barons took the lead for good in the sixth. Reyes led off with a single, and Sandoval dropped a beautiful drag bunt down the first-base line. In a close footrace with Sandoval, pitcher Ken Ray dropped a feed from the first baseman Gemoll for an error. Chad Durham bunted foul with two strikes for the first out of the inning. Piniella singled sharply to left to load the bases, and Reed singled to right-center, plating both Reyes and Sandoval. Reed was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Alvarez raked a double down the leftfield line to score Piniella for a 5-3 Barons lead.

Down 6-3 in the ninth, the Stars mounted a threat against Birmingham closer Royce Ring. With one out, Ryan Knox singled to right, and J.J. Hardy ripped a two-out double to right-center. Corey Hart batted as the tying run, but Ring fanned him on a 2-2 breaking ball to end the game.

Pacheco (6-2) secured his sixth win, permitting three runs on six hits and two walks while fanning three over 5 1/3 innings. Ray (2-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs, one earned, on four hits with four strikeouts in two innings. Ring notched his 19th save, giving up one run on two hits in the ninth.

Huntsville and Birmingham play the second of a three-game series at Joe Davis Stadium Monday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Stars match righty Ben Hendrickson (2-1, 2.84) against Barons right-hander Mitch Wylie (1-1, 4.76).

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Southern League Stories from June 29, 2003


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