Stars Take Two from Barons, 5-1 and 2-1

August 1, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – The Stars appear to have found their second-half stride. Huntsville swept a doubleheader from Birmingham, 5-1 and 2-1, to move two games in front in the Southern League West second-half chase. The Stars (22-16, 62-44) have won four straight, six of seven and nine of 12. Six games over .500 is Huntsville's new high-water mark for the second half.

Game one boiled down to Jeff Housman's pitching and a pair of Stars rallies. Housman (3-0) won for the third time in as many starts for Huntsville, giving up just one run on six hits and two walks while fanning two. Housman carried a shutout into the seventh and recorded his first complete game and the Stars' fourth overall. With two outs in the seventh, Steve Morales golfed a Housman breaking ball over the leftfield wall for a solo homer, his first of the year, to break up the shutout bid.

The Stars reached Barons starter Mitch Wylie for three in the second and two in the third. Noochie Vaner singled in a second-inning run, and Brad Nelson doubled in two. Corey Hart ripped a two-run single to left in the third for a 5-0 Huntsville lead. Wylie (3-4) suffered his fourth loss, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings.

A one-hour rain delay marked game two, stalled after three innings with the score tied, 1-1. Birmingham took advantage of a hit batter to score its run, and the Stars got theirs when the Barons committed two errors on the same play.

In the top of the third, Stars starter Jason Shelley plunked Tommy Nicholson with one out. Nicholson stole second, and one out later former Star Gabe Alvarez singled him home. In the bottom of the inning, Huntsville's Mike Kremblas singled off Byeong An, and with two outs Kremblas took off on a delayed steal of second. Catcher Carlos Maldonado's low throw bounced into centerfield, and Kremblas scrambled to third, where Chad Durham's throw from center eluded Josh Shaffer. The ball trickled into foul ground, and the pitcher An, backing up the play, could not secure it either. Kremblas charged home to tie the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Huntsville grabbed its only lead of the game. With two outs, Corey Hart singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, and Ryan Gripp followed with sinking liner to left. The ball short-hopped in front of Jon Hamilton and kicked to his left, and Hart raced all the way to third. Noochie Varner then blooped a single to right, scoring Hart to put the Stars up, 2-1.

Matt Parker (7-5) tossed two scoreless innings to secure his seventh win, allowing two hits and fanning two. Shelley authored five solid frames to lower his earned run average to 2.00. Shelly permitted just one run on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Barons reliever Ryan Meaux (0-1) suffered his first loss, surrendering one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The teams conclude the brief series Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium, when righty Mike Jones (7-2, 2.47) returns to the mound after a month of rehab to face Barons right-hander Tetsu Yofu (7-6, 3.62). Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 2000 fans through the gate receive a free 2003 Huntsville Stars baseball card set courtesy of Huntsville Hospital, also the sponsor of the fireworks spectacular that follows the game.



Southern League Stories from August 1, 2003


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