Stars' Struggles Continue

Published on August 27, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mike Wilson hit a home run and made a game-saving catch in West Tenn's 5-3 win over Huntsville Monday night in the middle game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx improved to 28-35 in the second half and squared the season series at 11 games apiece, while the Stars dipped to 35-28 in the second half and saw their lead in the North Division over Tennessee trimmed to two games after the Smokies' win over Chattanooga. The Stars have dropped six out of eight on the current home stand and have scored more than three runs in two of the contests.

Mumba Rivera opened the ninth on the hill for West Tenn and issued one out walks to Mel Stocker and Steve Sollmann before the runners advanced on a Hernan Iribarren ground out. The West Tenn outfielders were then brought in a few steps with the potential tying run at second and the move paid off when Wilson came in to make a diving grab of Adam Heether's sinking fly ball in right field to end the game. Rivera converted his fourth straight save chance but only his sixth in 15 tries all season.

Matt Tuiasosopo's first inning sacrifice fly, a run-scoring single by Erick Monzon and Wilson's 10th home run since he joined the Jaxx staked the visitors to a 3-0 lead after five frames. Stars' starter Lindsay Gulin was lifted after five innings after allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, while fanning five. He suffered the loss to fall to 11-6 and was stalled for a fourth straight start in an attempt to win his 12th game of the year.

West Tenn starter Doug Fister blanked the Stars through 6 2/3 innings before Steve Moss blasted a home run to right field, his career-high 11th, that cut the lead to 3-1. Bo Hall retired the first seven hitters he faced after taking over for Gulin until walking the bases loaded in the eighth and being replaced by Robert Hinton, who uncorked a wild pitch on his first offering that scored Marshall Hubbard to make it 4-1. Monzon then singled in another run to push the visitors' lead to 5-1.

A fielding error by shortstop Jesus Merchan allowed Heether to reach with two outs in the eighth and score when Michael Brantley followed with a double. Lou Palmisano walked and David Asher was replaced by Juan Sandoval, who gave up a single to Alcides Escobar that scored Brantley to trim the lead to 5-3. Moss then fanned to end the frame.

The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill for Huntsville against West Tenn southpaw Justin Thomas. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 27, 2007


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