Stars Take a Pair, 1-0 and 7-2

Published on June 1, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – Brandon Gemoll set the tone for the day, then Huntsville followed his lead, taking two important games from Mobile on Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium. The teams first completed a suspended game from April 25 at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, and Huntsville prevailed, 1-0. In the regularly scheduled contest, the Stars pounded out 12 hits in a 7-2 win, the seventh in their last 10 games. With the two victories and Birmingham's second straight loss to West Tenn, the Stars (31-23) lead the Southern League West by 3 ½ games.

The suspended game resumed with a 0-0 tie in the top of the seventh, Gemoll batting with two down, the bases empty and a 1-2 count. Gemoll launched Chris Rojas' first pitch deep to right for a solo homer, the only run in the Stars' 1-0 win.

Stars reliever Matt Childers tossed three shutout frames for his third save, giving up one hits and two walks while fanning four, and Derek Lee (7-2) picked up a win with six strikeouts over six scoreless innings he threw over a month ago. The loss went to Rojas (2-5), who allowed one run on one hit and one walk in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

In the full-length affair, Huntsville shattered a 1-1 tie with six hits and five runs in the fifth. The first five batters reached safely against lefty Cory Stewart. Ryan Gripp and Richard Paz singled, then Kade Johnson walked to load the bases. Daryl Clark lined a two-run single to right, and Chris Barnwell batted with runners at first and third.

After fouling the ball off on a first-pitch squeeze attempt, Barnwell got the sign again. This time, he bunted perfectly out in front of the plate, and Stewart's hurried attempt to glove the ball went in vain. Barnwell's squeeze-bunt single drove in one and left runners at first and second. Noochie Varner reached on an error at third by Bobby Scales, and Dave Krynzel singled in a run. With the bases still loaded, J.J. Hardy popped out before Corey Hart delivered a run-scoring single for a 6-1 Stars lead.

Matt Parker (4-1) notched his fourth straight victory with five solid frames on the heels of winning the BC Powder Southern League Pitcher of the Week award. He allowed just one run on four hits and three walks while fanning three. Stewart (4-4) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits and one walk in five innings.

Huntsville and Mobile meet in the third of a four-game series Monday night at the Joe. Stars lefty Luis Martinez (4-3, 2.10) battles Bears righty Roger Deago (4-2, 3.79). Game time is 7:05 p.m.

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Southern League Stories from June 1, 2003


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