Stars Win, Take Care of Business, Now Wait to Find Out Fate

Published on June 21, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Mark Holliman overcame a rough start to toss six solid innings and Huntsville scored five runs with two outs en route to a first-half ending 8-3 triumph over Birmingham Sunday afternoon in the last of a six-game set at Regions Park. The Stars snapped a six-game slide to improve to 38-31 and put them selves in the lead in the North Division by a half game over Carolina, pending the outcome of the Mudcats game at Tennessee. The Barons finished the first half at 48-21, the most wins for any team in organized professional baseball, after seeing a ten-game win streak come to an end.

John Shelby led off the home first with a single and moved to third base on a single by Tyler Flowers, who advanced to second base on the throw to third. Dayan Viciedo's ground ball out plated Shelby with the game's first run, as Flowers held at second base and then scored on a two-out single by David Cook, who knocked in his 45th run of the season.

Taylor Green's two-run home run in the second inning got the game tied and marked the first long ball allowed by Barons' starter Kyle McCulloch since May 19. Vinny Rottino followed with a walk, advanced to second base on a two-out walk to Yohannis Perez and scored the go-ahead run on an Adam Stern single. Shane Justis followed with a base hit to plate Perez to complete the four-run rally, as the Stars scored one more run in the inning than they had in the last three games combined.

Rottino delivered a two-out, run-scoring double in the third to push the lead to 5-2 before Kevin Melillo and Green came through with consecutive run-scoring hits with two outs in the fourth to extend the visitors lead to 7-2. McCulloch was taken out after throwing a season-low four frames, allowing a season-high seven runs on a season-high 11 hits, while walking two and fanning one. It was only the third time in 14 starts that he failed to go at least six innings. He suffered the loss to drop to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 against the Stars.

Holliman kept the Barons blanked over the next four frames before Cook led off the home sixth with a triple and scored on a Stefan Gartrell ground out. The right-hander set down the next to hitters to finish off his performance, allowing six hits, issuing one walk and striking out three. John Axford threw three scoreless innings in relieft, allowing three hits and fanning three, to earn his first save and finish off 5 1/3 shutout frames in the series.

The Stars return home to open the second half of the season with a six-game series against Chattanooga Monday night with right-hander Josh Butler taking the hill against Lookouts' right-hander Travis Chick. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

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Southern League Stories from June 21, 2009


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