Stars Score Seven in 5th, Win 10-9

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


Huntsville, AL - For the second time this season, Huntsville scored seven runs in a frame. Again, they took advantage of the opposition's charity. This time, it erased a five-run deficit, sparking Huntsville to a 10-9 win over Chattanooga on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars (33-24) increased their lead in the Southern League West to 3 1/2 games with Birmingham's loss at West Tenn.

On April 24 in Mobile, the Bay Bears led 5-4 before committing four errors in Huntsville's seven-run seventh. The Stars won that day, 12-6. Thursday, Huntsville trailed 7-2 entering the fifth, then three Chattanooga errors capped off the Stars seven-run eruption.

The inning started with Huntsville making noise at the plate, as the first six batters reached safely. Pinch-hitter Ryan Knox and Noochie Varner singled, then Dave Krynzel walked. J.J. Hardy's walk forced in a run, and Brandon Gemoll singled in another. Kade Johnson singled up the middle to score two. After Gemoll was caught trying to steal third, Daryl Clark struck out. Richard Paz drew a walk, leaving two on with two out.

Chris Barnwell singled up the middle, and Johnson scored when he knocked Alejandro Diaz's throw out of catcher Dane Sardinha's glove for an error. With Paz at third and Barnwell at second, pinch-hitter Knox struck out in his second at-bat, but the ball eluded Sardinha, whose low throw to first handcuffed Creighton Gubanich. The ball bounced away and Paz scored easily. Barnwell steamed home as well, and Gubanich wheeled to grab the ball and whipped a throw home. No one was there to receive it, allowing Barnwell to score as the ball sailed to the screen.

Noochie Varner added an insurance run with a double that plated Corey Hart in the eighth, putting Huntsville up, 10-7. That proved crucial, as the Lookouts (27-32) battled for two in the ninth against reliever Matt Childers before an out was recorded. Santiago Perez singled, Andy Beattie doubled him home and Dernell Stenson singled in Beattie. Stephen Smitherman's single put runners at first and second, then Childers fanned Mark Schramek. Diaz fouled out down the rightfield line, with Stenson advancing to third as the tying run. Childers retired Gubanich on a soft liner to center to end the game.

Reliever Ken Ray (1-0) garnered his first win after inheriting runners at second and third with none out in the fifth, his only inning of work. He fanned Diaz and Gubanich before walking Sardinah, then he struck out pitcher Ryan Mottl to end the frame. Tim Adkins (0-1) suffered the loss in his first appearance with Chattanooga this year, permitting three unearned runs on three hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning. Childers notched his fourth save in five chances despite giving up two runs on four hits while fanning one in the ninth.

Huntsville sends right-hander Mike Jones (5-1, 2.51) against Lookouts righty Dustin Moseley (4-3, 3.49) in game two of the series Friday night at the Joe. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Papa John's Pizza presents Stars Thundersticks free to the first 1500 fans in attendance. Ford Motor Company sponsors a Fireworks Friday spectacular after the game.



Southern League Stories from June 6, 2003


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