Stars Sweep Twin Bill

Published on April 6, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Cole Gillespie knocked in the game-winning run in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly in a 4-3 victory that carried Huntsville to a doubleheader sweep over Mississippi on a cold, blustery Saturday afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have taken the first three games of the season-opening five-game set by outscoring the Braves 18-6.

Nelson Payano took over on the hill for the Braves in the fifth inning and walked Matt LaPorta and Chris Errecart to load the bases with one out. Gillespie then lined the first pitch he saw deep enough into center field to plate Guilder Rodriguez with the go-ahead run. Gillespie has two sacrifice flies in the first three games after collecting only three all of last season. Todd Redmond went four innings in his first start since being acquired by the Braves from the Pirates during the last week of spring training and yielded three runs, though only one was earned. A Diory Hernandez fielding error allowed the first Stars run to score and a Van Pope throwing error allowed the next two runs by the home team to cross the plate in the third inning.

Patrick Ryan opened the sixth inning on the hill for the Stars and worked a scoreless frame and gave way to Joe Bateman, who retired the side in order to record his first save of the season. David Welch earned the win in his first double-A start, going five frames and allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits. He also collected his first professional hit with a bunt single in the fourth inning.

Alcides Escobar delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the third inning of game one to give the Stars a 1-0 lead against James Parr. Huntsville starter Derek Miller spun five shutout frames, allowing two hits, walking one and fanning six before David Johnson took over in the sixth to protect the one-run lead. Carl Loadenthal led off with a single, advanced on two wild pitches and scored to tie the game on a two-out single by Kala Ka'aihue, who drove in his first run of the season.

Mat Gamel walked to start the sixth inning against Michael Nix, advanced to second base on a passed ball and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Chris Errecart, who then moved to second on the throw back to the infield. Gillespie followed with a single to right to plate Errecart to make it 3-1 before two fielders' choice grounders and another run-scoring hit by Escobar capped a five-run rally that pushed the lead to 6-1. Bateman recorded three ground ball outs in the seventh to end the game.

The series continues Sunday afternoon with left-hander Brae Wright taking the hill for Huntsville against Braves right-hander Jairo Cuevas. Coverage of the game begins at 1:50 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 6, 2008


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