Stars Fall to Bears in Ninth, 2-1

July 15, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mobile, AL – This one stung a bit. The Stars took a lead into the ninth and let it get away. Mobile scored twice to walk off a winner, 2-1, on Monday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. The Bay Bears (12-9, 41-48) claimed sole possession of first place in the Southern League West, pushing Huntsville (11-10, 51-37) a game back in the race for a second-half championship.

A pair of all-star lefties – Star Luis Martinez and Bear Cory Stewart – commanded the game. Martinez spun seven scoreless, two-hit frames, walking four and fanning seven. Just three runners advanced past first against Martinez. Stewart was equally brilliant, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out nine through 6 1/3 shutout innings.

"The starting pitching was outstanding for both teams," Stars hitting instructor Sandy Guerrero said. "Stewart was really hitting his spots.

With one out in the seventh, Stewart's own miscue appeared to cost Mobile the game. Brandon Gemoll hit a cue shot back to mound. Stewart fielded and took his time, then air-mailed his throw to first. The ball sailed down the rightfield into Mobile's bullpen, and Gemoll motored into third. Kade Johnson batted against reliever J.J. Trujillo and promptly delivered a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Huntsville lead.

In the ninth, Stars lefty Brian Adams entered to face left-handed hitting Jake Gautreau, who flied out to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Bobby Scales, a switch-hitter, drew a walk, and righty Matt Parker relieved Adams to face right-hand batter Humberto Quintero. Quintero grounded a single to left, and a costly wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. J.J. Furmaniak walked, bringing up Vince Faison with the bases loaded and one out. On a 3-1 fastball from Parker, Faison hit a deep drive to left-center that bounced off the warning track and over the wall for a game-winning, two-run double.

Reliever Chris Rojas (4-6) picked up the win, walking one in a scoreless ninth, and Parker (6-4) took the loss, surrendering one run on one walk and two hits without recording an out in the ninth.

The Stars send their newest member, Doug Davis (0-0, 0.00), a big-league lefty recently signed by Milwaukee as a free agent after his refusal of an assignment to the minors by the Toronto Blue Jays, against Bears righty Duncan McAdoo (3-5, 4.39). Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-Game Show starts at 6:50 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from July 15, 2003


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