Stars Hang on for 7-4 Win

Published on June 11, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Birmingham, AL – Huntsville's magic number stands at two. The first-place Stars (36-26) held on for a heart-pounding 7-4 victory over Birmingham (31-31) on Tuesday night at Hoover Metroplitan Stadium, and Mobile won at West Tenn, 5-4. Huntsville could clinch the Southern League West first-half title as early as Wednesday night. The Stars lead West Tenn by four and the Barons by five with six games left.

Tuesday's battle with Birmingham featured eight errors, 21 hits, spectacular plays and plenty of drama. Huntsville clung a 3-2 lead into the seventh when reliever Matt Childers' incredible glove-flip of the ball to home plate thwarted a squeeze bunt that would have tied the game. This followed Chad Durham's spectacular diving catch in the top of the frame to rob Richard Paz and prevent two runs from scoring.

After stranding 10 runners through the first eight innings, Huntsville's ninth-inning rally proved critical. With the bases loaded and two down, Kade Johnson ripped a two-run single to right, and Johnson and Paz advanced to second and third on the throw home. Noochie Varner followed with a two-run single of his own, and Huntsville led, 7-2.

The Barons rallied for two in the ninth against closer Mike Adams and brought the tying run to the plate with one out. Adams fanned Ryan Hankins and Gabe Alvarez popped out to end the game. Adams recorded his eighth save, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while fanning four over two innings.

Derek Lee (8-2) notched his league-best eighth win, permitting just two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Childers tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning one. Jim Bullard (1-2) suffered the loss, surrendering three unearned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over four frames.

In Wednesday's game three of the series, Huntsville sends righty Mike Jones () against Barons righty () in the Eighth Annual Rickwood Classic at Historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham. Huntsville will wear the uniform of its inaugural season, 1985, when it won the Southern League title. Birmingham dons the uniform of its 1983 championship club. Game time is 12:30 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on Jammin' 1550 WLOR, ESPN 1450 WTKI and at www.huntsvillestars.com. The Bill Penney Toyota Pre-game Show starts at 12:15 p.m.

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Southern League Stories from June 11, 2003


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