Stars Survive Cold and Down Looks

Published on April 14, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Matt LaPorta knocked in two runs and Michael Brantley reached base in all five of his

at-bats, as Huntsville hung on to down Chattanooga 6-5 on a frigid Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville improved to 7-4, and 6-0 at home, and stayed within a game of North Division leading Carolina, while the Lookouts dropped to 5-6. Temperatures dipped to 45 degrees at first pitch and dropped significantly throughout the game and were augmented by winds gusting in from left field at about 20 miles per hour.

Brantley led off the home first with a single, moved to second base on an Alcides Escobar base hit. The two pulled off a double steal and a throwing error by catcher Craig Tatum on the play allowed Brantley to score. Escobar then came in to score on a two-out single by LaPorta, who had one hit in 14 tries in the last series against West Tenn.

Jose Castro's run-scoring ground out in the second and Michael Griffin's run-producing double in the third tied the game before the Stars tallied twice in the home third to take the lead for good. Brantley singled, Escobar and Mat Gamel walked to load the bases and Chris Errecart followed with a sacrifice fly that moved all three runners. LaPorta was given an intentional pass to reload the bases before Mike Bell singled to right to plate Escobar to make it 4-2. However, on the play, Gamel was thrown out at the plate and LaPorta was then cut down trying to advance to third to end the frame.

BJ Szymanski's home run in the fourth trimmed the Stars' lead to 4-3 and the Lookouts had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth when Huntsville starter Steve Hammond was taken out of the game and replaced by David Johnson, who fanned Eric Eymann and Szymanski to end the inning. Johnson worked a scoreless sixth inning to grab his second win of the season. Hammond allowed four hits, walked five and fanned eight in his third turn of the season.

LaPorta and Bell delivered back-to-back run-scoring triples in the fifth to give the Stars a 6-3 lead. Chattanooga starter Sam LeCure, who lost to Huntsville three times last year, was handed his first loss this season after allowing all six runs on eight hits, four walks and two hit batters over five frames. Brantley singled three times, walked twice, stole three bases and extended his hitting streak to five straight games.

Szymanski's two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning cut the home team's lead to one before EJ Shanks retired the side in order in the eighth and Patrick Ryan worked a perfect ninth to record his first save of the season.

The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Lookouts' right-hander Darryl Thompson. 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 April 14, 2008


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