Stars Fall to Bears, 6-3

April 23, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mobile, AL – With a pair of homeruns from unexpected sources, the Bay Bears rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to beat Huntsville, 6-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Hank Aaron Stadium. Danny Bravo and R.D. Smith hit their first homers of the season as Mobile knocked off the Stars for the first time in 2003.

Bravo – just called up from high-A Lake Elsinore – made his first start in a Bears uniform. He did not disappoint after driving in 17 runs in 15 California League games before his promotion. Bravo debuted with a pinch-hit appearance Tuesday night, but his first start announced his arrival to the league. Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Bears' Rich Gomez and Jon Knott drew two-out walks. On a 1-1 pitch from Pedro Liriano, Bravo deposited the ball on top of the Mobile clubhouse beyond the rightfield wall. His first Southern League hit was a three-run homerun that put Mobile in front, 4-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Bears sealed the game when backup catcher R.D. Smith batted with one on and two outs. Smith ripped Matt Parker's 1-1 pitch over the leftfield fence for a two-run homer, his third hit of the day. Smith had just one single in 11 at-bats over his first five games.

Roger Deago (2-0) picked up his second win, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while fanning three in six innings. Liriano (1-3) absorbed his third loss, surrendering four runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks while striking out six, his season-high. Parker gave up two runs on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts in two innings of relief. Rusty Tucker recorded his fifth save for Mobile, permitting one run on one hit and two walks with two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings.



Southern League Stories from April 23, 2003


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