Stars Win a Beauty, 2-1 over Jacksonville

April 6, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Huntsville, AL – If only they could all be as good as Saturday night. Huntsville and Jacksonville played one to store in the memory bank, just three games into the season. It took 13 innings, with more plot twists than a Robert Ludlum yarn, and the Stars (2-1) prevailed, 2-1, to take their second straight from the Suns (1-2). Huntsville can win three of four from Jacksonville with a victory Sunday afternoon.

Where to begin when every play was so important? How about the sixth, when the Suns were poised to break up a scoreless tie. With a runner at third and one out, Brennan King hit a sharp bouncer to third. The Suns' Nick Alvarez broke for the plate on contact. Corey Hart fielded and threw a strike to catcher Joel Alvarado, who took a ferocious hit from Alvarez. Somehow, Alvarado held onto the ball, retiring Alvarez and preserving the 0-0 tie.

With the Stars up 1-0 in the eighth – Brandon Gemoll's sixth-inning sacrifice fly plated Geoff Jenkins for the lead – the Stars' defense shone again. Derek Michaelis drew a one-out walk, and King hit a smash to right-center. Dave Kryzel, showing off his considerable speed, chased the ball into the alley and made a spectacular diving catch to save a certain extra-base hit and the potential tying run.

The Suns finally tied it in the ninth, when an ill-timed passed ball on strike three allowed Dave Detienne to reach first with one out. Pinch-hitter Tarrik Brock promptly cashed in the mistake, ripping a double to right-center to plate Detienne with the tying run.

Both bullpens were impeccable through the first three extra frames, with each team advancing but one runner into scoring position. Finally in the 13th, the Stars found a chink in the Suns' armor.

Ryan Knox – Friday's hero with a pinch-hit three-run homer – ripped a one-out single to center. J.J. Hardy followed, and Knox stole second base. After Hardy walked to put runners at first and second, Corey Hart hit a bouncer to short. Detienne's feed to second was perfect to force out Hardy, who was barreling down on the bag. Victor Diaz's relay to first sailed off line, pulling Mechaelis off the bag. Knox had broken from second on contact and he never hesitated around third. His slide beat Mechaelis' throw home for a 2-1 Stars win.

Lost in the excitement of a game that will be hard to top, Stars starter Luis Martinez – a 6-foot-6 lefty who is on the Brewers' 40-man roster – equaled a career high with 11 strikeouts in just five innings. He did not allow a hit or a run and fell just two short of the Stars' single-game strikeout record of 13, shared by Greg Cadaret (1985) and Miguel Jimenez (1993). Martinez reached his early-season pitch count quickly – the direct result of 11 strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters – exiting with 84 pitches after five frames. Further, the Stars' five pitchers combined for a whopping 18 strikeouts.

The General, Derek Lee (1-0), picked up his first win of the season with a scoreless 13th, and Lino Urdaneta (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Huntsville sends right-hander Mike Jones to the mound Sunday afternoon against Suns righty Edwin Jackson in the season debut for both. The zany Zooperstars will perform for fans throughout the game. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.



Southern League Stories from April 6, 2003


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