Stars Spoil Suns Party, 1-0

April 11, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Jacksonville, FL – Friday night belonged to the city of Jacksonville and its glistening new ballpark, but the game belonged to Huntsville. In the inaugural contest at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, the Stars spoiled the party, shutting out the Suns, 1-0, behind another brilliant performance from lefty Luis Martinez.

Martinez, a 6-foot-6 lefty from the Dominican Republic, dominated Jacksonville for the second straight outing. In his first start of the season in Huntsville, Martinez struck out 11 Suns, including the first five in a row. On Friday in Jacksonville, Martinez fanned nine, including five of the first seven, while securing his first win. Martinez has 20 strikeouts in 11 scoreless innings over two starts, allowing just two hits during that span.

Suns starter Heath Totten matched Martinez until the fifth, when Huntsville broke up a scoreless tie after Totten had retired the first 13 batters he faced. With one down, Brandon Gemoll doubled to right, and one out later Cristian Guerrero ripped a double to left to score Gemoll for a 1-0 Stars lead.

Guerrero finished 2-for-3 with a double and single, his first multi-hit game of the season. Gemoll went 1-for-3 with a double, Huntsville's first of four hits on the night. J.J. Hardy's infield single in the seventh extended his season-long hitting streak to eight games. Mike Collins had all three of Jacksonville's hits, singling three times in three at-bats.

Martinez (1-0) went six innings for the first time this season, surrendering just two hits and two walks. Totten (0-2) suffered his second straight loss to the Stars despite fanning seven and allowing just one run on four hits in eight innings. Matt Parker, Derek Lee and closer Mike Adams each tossed a scoreless frame, with Adams securing his first save with a perfect ninth.

The victory leveled the Stars' record at 4-4 and pushed Huntsville within ½-game of Southern League Western Division leader West Tennessee, which lost, 7-2 to Chattanooga. Jacksonville fell to 4-3, with all three losses coming against Huntsville.

"It was another good outing for Luis," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said. "He was in control pretty much the whole time. Overall, it was an outstanding job by all the pitchers, and we got one big two-out hit from Guerrero.

The Stars and Suns battle again tonight at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, when Huntsville right-hander Mike Jones (0-0, 4.91) meets Suns righty Edwin Jackson (0-0, 5.40). Game time is 6:05 p.m. CST. Listen to the Stars on Jammin' 1550, ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com. Broadcast time is 5:50 p.m. CST.



Southern League Stories from April 11, 2003


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