Stars Win Wild One in 14, 3-2

Published on May 22, 2004 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Birmingham, AL – Tie game, bases loaded, bottom of the 13th, nobody out. On a 2-2 pitch, Birmingham tries a squeeze. Chris Stewart bunts through the pitch for strike three, and Stars catcher Joel Alvarado tags out Scott Bikowski charging down the line from third. An inning later, Huntsville's Ozzie Chavez capped his Southern League debut with a solo homerun in the Stars' 3-2 win over the Barons (22-19) on Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (22-20) remained 1 ½ games out of first in the Southern League West.

Chavez figured prominently in every Stars rally. Arriving at the park at 3 p.m. after his call-up from class-A High Desert, Chavez doubled in his first Huntsville at-bat, sending Johnny Raburn from first to third. Rickie Weeks' single plated Raburn for a 1-0 Stars lead. With two outs in the fourth, Chavez batted with the bases loaded and drew a walk that scored Jason Belcher to put Huntsville up, 2-0.

The Barons rebounded in the sixth, as Josh Shaffer led off with a walk. After Ruddy Yan's sacrifice bunt, Rob Sasser walked. Nate Murphy singled to left-center, knocking in Shaffer, and when Tony Gwynn Jr.'s errant throw to second bounced past Weeks, Sasser raced home for a 2-2 tie.

In the 14th, Chavez led off against Barons reliever Josh Fields. On a 1-1 pitch, Chavez hit a solo homer to right, highlighting his first appearance for the Stars. Chavez finished 2-for-5 with a homer, a double and two runs batted in.

Stars reliever John Novinsky (5-0) notched his fifth win, giving up one hit and no runs while fanning four over three scoreless innings. Fields (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts in three innings.

The Stars resume play Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium in the opener of a four-game series against the Jacksonville Suns. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Bernie Brewer and the Famous Sausages will entertain throughout the game, presented by Corr Wireless and WHNT-19. The Stars will wear throwback Milwaukee Brewers jerseys to be auctioned off during the game. For tickets, call 256-882-2562, visit www.huntvillestars.com or stop by the Stars office at Joe Davis Stadium.

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Southern League Stories from May 22, 2004


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