Stars Strangle BayBears with Mighty Pen
Published on September 1, 2011 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - A slugfest early turned into a relievers' dual late as the last 16 consecutive BayBears were retired in a 7-6, series-opening loss to the Huntsville Stars on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium.
Runs weren't tough to come by early for either ballclub as the Stars (64-71, 27-38) struck first in the bottom of the first. Lee Haydel smacked a leadoff double off Patrick Corbin (9-8) while Zelous Wheeler bashed a two-run homer to put the Stars on the board.
Ed Easley cracked a two-out double against Huntsville starter Chase Wright in the top of the second while Dan Kaczrowski's base hit to center brought Easley home to pull the BayBears (82-54, 44-22) within one. Huntsville added a run in the bottom of the second as Steffan Wilson blasted his sixth homer. The Stars picked up one more in the third on a base hit by Brock Kjeldgaard.
In the fourth, the BayBears broke through with a five-spot to chase Wright from the contest. Adam Eaton smacked an RBI single while Jake Elmore punished a three-run homer down the left field line. Ryan Wheeler's RBI knock put the BayBears up by a pair.
Huntsville came right back in the home half of the fourth to keep Corbin from his pursuit of 10 wins for the season. Sean Halton cranked a run-scoring double while Zelous Wheeler's two-run single gave the Stars a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Jim Henderson (4-1) replaced Wright and worked up three perfect innings. Robert Hinton didn't allow a baserunner in the eighth while Santo Manzanillo (S, 7) recorded the fifth straight perfect frame to finish the contest. Billy Spottiswood and Bryan Woodall combined for four scoreless innings out of the BayBears' bullpen.
The Second Half South Division Champion BayBears battle the Stars in the second of their five-game set at 6:43 from Joe Davis Stadium on Friday night. Righty Jarrod Parker (11-8) starts for the BayBears against fellow right-hander Michael Bowman (6-11). The BayBears will host game three of the South Division Championship Series on Saturday, September 10 at 7:05 p.m. against the Birmingham Barons with fireworks after the contest and a 9/11 tribute before the ballgame. For tickets, which start at $5 for kids and $7 for adults, please call (251) 479-BEAR or visit www.mobilebaybears.com. You can also follow the BayBears all season long on Facebook and Twitter.
Southern League Stories from September 1, 2011
- Smokies Fall Short in Birmingham - Knoxville Smokies
- Mississippi beats Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- M-Braves Blast Three Homers En Route to Third-Straight Win - Mississippi Braves
- Wheeler's Four RBIs Lead the Stars in 7-6 Slugfest - Huntsville Stars
- Barons Extinguish Smokies, 5-3 - Birmingham Barons
- Stars Strangle BayBears with Mighty Pen - Mobile BayBears
- Biscuits Never Lead in Series Opener - Montgomery Biscuits
- Lookouts Beat Biscuits, 8-3 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Comeback to Defeat Generals 7-6 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Goldschmidt Is Southern League MVP - Mobile BayBears
- Moore Named Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher - Montgomery Biscuits
- OF Quintin Berry Promoted - Carolina Mudcats
- Generals Lose Six-Run Lead and Fall in Opener to Suns - Jackson Generals
- Berlind Added To Smokies Roster Thursday - Knoxville Smokies
- Yohan Flande Back to Gwinnett - Mississippi Braves
- Denis Phipps Named to Southern League Post Season All-Star Team - Carolina Mudcats
- Four Mudcats Promoted to Louisville - Carolina Mudcats
- Mobile's Paul Goldschmidt Named Southern League MVP - SL1
- Montgomery's Matt Moore Named Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher - SL1
- Jackson Generals Notes Thursday - Jackson Generals
- Moore, Vogt Named Post-Season All-Stars - Montgomery Biscuits
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