Stars' Late Rally Falls Short, 6-4

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


Huntsville, AL – Mobile nearly squandered a pair of four-run leads, and Huntsville had the tying run in scoring position in the ninth. In the end, the Stars fell one hit shy. Bay Bears closer Rusty Tucker fanned Richard Paz with two on and two out in the ninth to seal a 6-4 Mobile win on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (9-7, 49-35) dropped back into a tie for first in the Southern League West.

Stars starter Pedro Liriano was overpowering, allowing only an unearned run in the second while fanning a season-high seven over six outstanding innings. Bears starter Cory Stewart was even better, giving up only an infield single and two walks with three strikeouts in five shutout innings.

Up 1-0, Mobile rallied against Stars reliever Ryan Miller in the seventh. Jake Gautreau doubled to start the inning, then Danny Bravo walked. After Vince Faison struck out, Humberto Quintero received an intentional pass to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Bobby Scales ripped a two-run single to left and took second when outfielder Chris Barnwell bobbled the ball. With runners at second and third and the infield in, Freddy Guzman hit a chopper up the middle that shortstop J.J. Hardy stabbed. Hardy wheeled and threw a strike to the plate, but Quintero scored when his leg knocked the ball out of the catcher Kade Johnson's glove.

Noochie Varner ripped a two-run homer in the seventh, his third of the season, to pull Huntsville within 4-2, but Mobile responded in the eighth. Gautreau launched a two-run homerun deep to right, his eighth, to make it 6-2, Bears.

The Stars fought back against Tucker in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Gripp walked and Varner doubled down the rightfield line to cap his 3-for-4 performance. A wild pitch scored Gripp and pushed Varner to third. Kade Johnson singled home Varner and took second on Barnwell's groundout to first. Pinch-hitter Mike Kremblas struck out, then Ryan Knox walked. Johnson and Knox pulled off a double steal, but Tucker froze Paz with a 1-2 fastball to end the game with the tying run at second.

Stewart (8-5) picked up his eighth win with his five scoreless frames, and Liriano (5-9) took the loss, permitting only the unearned run over six innings.

Huntsville concludes the three-game series with Mobile Sunday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Stars right-hander Ben Hendrickson (3-1, 2.77) meets Bears righty Steve Watkins (5-4, 4.26). Game time is 6:05 p.m. The first 1500 kids age 14 and under receive a Stars baseball glove courtesy of Pepsi.



Southern League Stories from July 6, 2003


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