Stars Outlasted by Generals in Series Opener

August 29, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


To begin their final five-game series of the 2013 season, the Huntsville Stars fell to the Jackson Generals by a score of 5-3 on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

Dropping nine of their last 11 contests coming into the game, the Stars got off on the right foot in the bottom of the first inning against Generals starter Anthony Vasquez (W, 2-4). To leadoff the frame, outfielder Chadwin Stang took the second pitch he saw over the centerfield wall to make the score 1-0. For Stang, the homer was the first of his Double-A career.

After the Generals scored one run in both the top of the second on a solo homer from third basemen Ramon Morla and fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk drawn by outfielder Denny Almonte, Huntsville was able to regain the lead in the bottom half of the frame. To start things off, first basemen Jason Rogers reached on an error from Generals shortstop Chris Taylor. One batter later, Stars outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard hit a towering two-run blast to put the Stars back up by one.

The homer for Kjeldgaard was his 22nd of the season, putting him in a three-way tie for the most roundtrippers in the Southern League this year with Rogers and Chattanooga Lookouts outfielder Joc Pederson.

Unfortunately for the Stars, those were the final runs they'd be able to push across against the Generals.

In the fifth inning, the Generals got a sacrifice fly by second basemen Gabriel Noriega and a RBI groundout from outfielder Jabari Blash to regain the lead for good against starting pitcher Drew Gagnon and the Stars. Gagnon fell to 4-9 on the season after giving up four runs (three earned) in five innings while striking out and walking four batters each.

Jackson tacked on another run in the sixth with an RBI single from outfielder Leon Landry against Huntsville reliever Greg Holle.

To ensure the win for the Generals, righty Stephen Shackleford tossed a scoreless inning in relief and closer Carson Smith sent the Stars down in order in the ninth for his 15th save of the season.

For the Stars, the loss was their fourth straight overall and fourth in a row against the Generals dating back to their last series at The Ballpark at Jackson in late July.

On Friday, the Stars will play game two of a five-game series against the Jackson Generals at Joe Davis Stadium Field. Huntsville will send RHP Andy Moye (6-14, 4.00 ERA) while Jackson will counter with LHP Anthony Fernandez (9-7, 4.26 ERA). First pitch is 6:43 ET.



Southern League Stories from August 29, 2013


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