Stars Score Early, Bullpen Does the Rest

Published on May 11, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Chris Errecart and Cole Gillespie hit home runs early on and the bullpen threw four scoreless frames to preserve Huntsville's 7-2 win over Tennessee in windy, rainy and cold conditions Sunday evening in the second of a five-game set at Smokies' Park. The Stars improved to 26-11 overall and climbed over the break even mark, at 9-8, for the first time this season on the road to move three games in front of West Tenn in the North Division, while the Smokies fell to 15-22. Huntsville has totaled 15 hits in each of the first two games of the series and has now gathered at least ten hits in a game 20 times.

Chris Errecart hit a wind-aided home run to right field in the second inning to give the Stars a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth of the season and hit into winds ranging anywhere from 25 to 45 miles per hour. Cole Gillespie's three-run home run with two outs in the third pushed the visitors' advantage to 5-0. It was his sixth of the season and second in the last three games.

Stars' starter Derek Miller stranded runners at the corners with one out in the second before Tennessee rallied for a pair of runs in the home half of third. Jake Fox and Ryan Harvey delivered back-to-back run-scoring hits with two outs to trim the lead to 5-2.

The Stars loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth on singles by Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel and a walk to Matt LaPorta but starter Donnie Veal battled back to fan Gillespie and Errecart and was then taken out of the game. Tanner Watson came on to get Mike Bell to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning. Veal was charged with the loss after allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits and two walks. The highly-touted left-hander has lost all five of his starts against Huntsville dating back to last season and has allowed 21 runs, 17 earned, over 17 2/3 innings. Michael Brantley and Escobar added run-producing hits in the sixth against Watson to close the scoring.

Miller was removed after five innings and earned his fourth win of the season after giving up two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five. Patrick Ryan tossed two shutout frames to extend his scoreless innings streak to 18 2/3 and was followed to the hill by Melqui Torres and Robert Hinton, who each threw a scoreless frame. The game time temperature dropped from the upper 60's to 52 degrees by the time the game ended.

The series continues Monday night with left-hander David Welch taking the mound against Smokies' right-hander Mark Holliman. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.

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Southern League Stories from May 11, 2008


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