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Stars Survive Slow Start and Rain to Sink Suns

June 12, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Shane Justis collected three hits, scored three times and knocked in three runs to help Huntsville get past Jacksonville 9-6 Friday night in the second of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars lifted their record to 36-24 and maintained their two and a half game lead in the North Division over victorious Carolina, while the Suns fell to 29-33.

The Suns broke up a scoreless game with three runs in the third inning off of Donovan Hand on a two-out, run-scoring hit by Scott Cousins that was followed by a two-run double by Lee Mitchell. The Stars got the game tied in the bottom half of the frame when Justis smashed a two-out three-run home run, his fourth, off of Suns' starter Willie Glen.

Huntsville grabbed the lead for good with four runs in the fifth amid rain, heavy wind and lightning. The Stars loaded the bases with one out for Drew Anderson, who sent a ground ball to that was gloved by a diving Mitchell at third base. He threw from his knees wildly past the plate allowing two runs to score, while also allowing Jonathan Lucroy to reach third base and Anderson to advance to second. Vinny Rottino's fly ball to center field plated Lucroy before Cousins' errant throw to third base allowed Anderson to score to make it 7-3. Kevin Melillo followed with a wind blown, pop up infield double that chased Glen from the game and started a 35 minute rain delay. Glen took the loss to fall to 1-6 after allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits, while walking four and fanning two. He has lost each of his last four turns.

Hand grabbed the win to improve to 5-1 after yielding three runs on five hits over five frames. He punched out a season-high six and was followed by Mike McClendon, who worked a perfect sixth inning before encountering trouble in the seventh. Lorenzo Scott tripled in a run and scored on an infield single by Chris De La Cruz that trimmed the lead to 7-5. McClendon was lifted with runners at first and second and two outs and replaced by Casey Baron, who gave up a run-scoring hit to Cousins that cut the lead to one. Mitchell then walked to load the bases before Kevin Randel fanned to end the inning.

Rottino and Taylor Green singled in runs in the seventh inning to push the Stars lead back to three. Baron tossed a scoreless eighth and was relieved by Robert Hinton, who struck out the first two hitters he faced in the ninth before Mike Stanton singled and Cousins walked. Hinton then struck out Mitchell to end the game and earn his eighth save.

The series continues Saturday night with right-hander Mike Jones taking the hill for the Stars against Jacksonville southpaw Graham Taylor. Coverage of the game begins at 5:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.



Southern League Stories from June 12, 2009


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