Stars Outlast Suns to Even Series
June 12, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Huntsville, Ala. - Former 2008 Suns infielder Shane Justis finished three-for-four with a three-run homerun leading the Huntsville Stars (36-24) to a 9-6 victory over the Jacksonville Suns (29-33) in front of 2,126 Friday=2 0night at Joe Davis Stadium.
Huntsville starter Donovan Hand (5-1) picked up the victory, giving up three runs and five hits over five innings of work. Jacksonville starter Willie Glen (1-6) fell in the loss, charged with seven runs, six earned, off six hits over four and two-thirds innings. Robert Hinton (8) saved the game for the Stars, allowing a hit and a walk in the ninth inning.
Jacksonville opened the scoring in the third inning on a Scott Cousins single that drove in Lorenzo Scott for a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning Lee Mitchell connected on a double over the centerfielder's head to score Mike Stanton and Cousins for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, the20first two Huntsville batters walked and moved to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt. Following a groundout for the second out of the inning, Shane Justis belted a three-run homerun, his fourth of the season, tying the game 3-3. Justis spent the 2008 season with the Jacksonville Suns as a Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand.
Huntsville gained the lead in the fifth inning, scoring four times in the threat of an oncoming lightning storm. With the bases loaded and one out, Drew Anderson grounded a ball to third base when Suns third baseman Lee Mitchell threw wild over the plate allowing two runs to score. Vinny Rottino next hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Jonathan Lucroy for a 6-3 lead. When the throw to third base got away, Drew Anderson scored on the error for a 7-3 Huntsville lead.
Jacksonville cut the lead to one run in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three times against reliever Mike McClendon. Lorenzo Scott drove in Bryan Petersen wi th a triple, Chris de la Cruz legged out an infield hit to knock in Scott and a Scott Cousins single plated de la Cruz to cut the Huntsville lead to 7-6.
The Stars put the game away with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, including RBI singles from Rottino and Taylor Green to finish the scoring at 9-6.
Suns LH Graham Taylor will face Stars RH Mike Jones in game three of the series Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage is available on WFXJ-AM 930 and online at 930thefox.com.
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Southern League Stories from June 12, 2009
- Stars Survive Slow Start and Rain to Sink Suns - Huntsville Stars
- Stars Outlast Suns to Even Series - Huntsville Stars
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- Coleman Drives Tennessee to Win, 5-3 - Tennessee Smokies
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- White Sox to Hold Tryout at Regions Park - Birmingham Barons
- Hand, Anderson Rejoin Huntsville - Huntsville Stars
- Barons Schedule Double-Header for Friday, June 19 - Birmingham Barons
- Biscuits Let The Dogs In On Sunday - Montgomery Biscuits
- Suns Make Moves - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jaxx add former National's reliever, catcher in trade - Jackson Generals
- Jaxx add former first rounder, David Espinosa to roster - Jackson Generals
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