Stars Fall to Jacksonville, 7-6

April 6, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Bidding for three straight wins over the Suns, Huntsville came up just short on Sunday afternoon. Like Sisyphus of Greek lore, the Stars never could finish their task. Despite erasing deficits of 3-0 and 5-2, Huntsville (2-2) never led in a 7-6 loss at Joe Davis Stadium. Jacksonville (2-2) gained a split of the four-game series and snapped the Stars' two-game win streak.

Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Stars' Ryan Knox led off with a walk. Continuing his rehab assignment in Huntsville, Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins ripped a single to right and Knox raced to third. J.J. Hardy then lashed a double over the third-base bag to score Knox. Corey Hart followed with a groundout to plate Jenkins, and Hardy scored from third on a wild pitch to tie the game, 3-3.

A key seventh-inning error at third by Hart led to two unearned runs for the Suns, but the Stars again answered with a rally of their own. In the bottom of the seventh, Crisitian Guerrero reached on shortstop Mike Collins' error. With two outs, Brian Moon launched a towering two-run homer to left for a 5-5 tie.

Terrik Brock's solo homer and Collins' run-scoring single pushed Jacksonville back in front in the eight, and Huntsville's response fell just short. In the home eighth, Hardy capped a brilliant night with his third double, this one scoring Jenkins from second. The rally stalled, however, as Hart popped out and Brandon Gemoll flied out to end the threat.

Eric Stults (1-0) picked up his first save for the Suns, retiring the last four Stars batters. Will McCrotty notched the win, allowing three unearned runs on three hits while fanning three over 2 2/3 innings. Huntsville's Matt Hammons (0-1) suffered the loss, permitting four runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings.

Huntsville faces Orlando in the first of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium Monday night. Pedro Liriano makes his season debut for the Stars. Game time is 7:05 p.m.



Southern League Stories from April 6, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central