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Stars Take Share of First Place with Victory

May 9, 2012 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


JACKSON, Tenn.- With a 4-2 victory over the Jackson Generals (20-14) at Pringles Park early Wednesday afternoon, the Huntsville Stars (20-14) now have a share of the lead in the Southern League North Division for the first time this season.

First baseman Hunter Morris got the scoring started early for Huntsville in the first inning with his Southern League-leading 16th double to score right fielder Kentrail Davis. Davis drew a walk to start the game and advanced to third on back-to-back ground outs from centerfielder Josh Prince and second baseman Scooter Gennett.

The Generals got their first hit off Huntsville's starter Kyle Heckathorn in the third with a single from Francisco Martinez. He stole second and eventually scored on a double by Eric Campbell to tie the game.

Huntsville's offense attacked again in the top of the fourth with a RBI-double from Jay Gibbons to score catcher Jason Jaramillo. Gibbons went on to have a perfect 4-for-4 game with two doubles, bringing in three of the Stars four total runs.

Jackson tied the game up again in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a single from Ralph Henriquez to plate Chris Pettit. Pettit was hit by a pitch from Heckathorn and stole second with Henriquez at bat.

Generals starter Taijuan Walker was replaced at the start of the fifth inning by reliever Brian Moran. Walker, named the top 20th prospect in all of Minor League Baseball according to Baseball America, went four innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He walked two and only struck out four Huntsville batters.

With the game tied at 2-2, Gibbons made good on his perfect day, giving the Stars back the lead for good in the sixth. Gennett started out the inning with a single to left-center. He swiped second, his fourth of the season, with Jaramillo at the plate and eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch by Moran. He came around to score on Gibbons second RBI-double of the night. The Stars used Gibbons final hit of the night in the eighth to put up their fourth and final run.

Heckathorn finished the night going a full eight innings, allowing just two runs to score on four hits. This was the 24-year-old's longest outing of his professional career and the longest for a Stars pitcher this season. He didn't allow a walk, his third time this season, and struck out seven Generals. Reliever Jesus Sanchez came in to close out the game, picking up his second save of the season, allowing just one hit in one inning of work. Sanchez has yet to give up a run in his last 12 appearances.

As a team, the victory gave the Stars their third consecutive series win in a row, second straight on the road.

The finale of a five-game series between the two teams will begin on Thursday as the Stars will send RHP Josh Stinson (4-1, 3.33 ERA) to the mound to square off against Generals RHP Brandon Maurer (2-0, 3.55 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

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