Stars Shutout, Lose to Blue Wahoos in Extras

Published on August 21, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


After being losing the first four games of their series at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars fell to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 11 innings by a score of 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon.

The loss spoiled a tremendous outing from Stars starting pitcher Ariel Pena. A winner of his last two starts, Pena tossed seven scoreless frames while giving up just four hits. He also struck out eight batters, his second highest total of the season. Over his last three starts, the Brewers 17th ranked prospect (per MLB.com) has given up just two earned runs in 18 innings pitched.

While the 24-year-old righty had one of his best starts of the season, Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith went toe-to-toe with Pena. Smith tossed 6.1 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits while striking out four batters. He now leads the entire Southern League in strikeouts with 130.

Both Pena and Smith earned no decisions.

Aside from Pena, Stars reliever Kevin Shackelford also tossed three scoreless frames.

In the seventh inning, the Stars squandered their biggest scoring opportunity against Pensacola righty Jamie Walczak. With the bases-loaded and one out, shortstop Hector Gomez flew out to centerfield and Shawn Zarraga was gunned out trying to advance from second to third before the run from third could tag up and score to end the inning.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eleventh inning, where Pensacola tacked on the only run of the game against Stars righty David Goforth (L, 4-3). After a leadoff single from Blue Wahoos outfielder Ryan LaMarre, a sac bunt and a groundout put the potential go-ahead run just 90 feet away with two outs. With outfielder Yorman Rodriguez at the plate, Goforth threw a wild pitch that allowed LaMarre to score without a throw as the game-winning run.

Pensacola ensured their fifth straight victory when closer Trevor Bell notched his third save of the series and 15th save of the season with a scoreless bottom of the eleventh inning.

For the Stars, first basemen Jason Rogers paced the offense with two of the Stars five total hits.

The defeat for the Stars marks their fifth loss in a row and seventh shutout of the season. Huntsville has also scored two runs or less in each of the last six contests.

On Thursday, the Stars will try to avoid the series sweep against the Blue Wahoos with the finale of a six-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will send RHP Brooks Hall (2-5, 4.53 ERA) to the hill while the Pensacola will counter with RHP Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.00 ERA).

Stephenson is the top prospect in the Reds organization and a consensus top-20 prospect in all of minor league baseball.

First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

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Southern League Stories from August 21, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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