Suns Slow Down Stars, Again
September 5, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Brad Stone spun five scoreless innings and teamed with five relievers on a six-hit shutout in Jacksonville's 2-0 victory over Huntsville Saturday night in the middle of the season-ending five-game at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns improved to 45-23 and clinched at least a tie for the second half South Division title, while the Stars suffered a season-high seventh straight loss, all by one or two runs, to fall to 25-42 in the second half and 63-73 overall. The Suns lead the season series ten games to three and have won six of the eight in Huntsville.
The Suns strung together three straight singles to load the bases with one out in the first inning but could not score after Josh Butler struck out Scott Cousins and got Chris De La Cruz to ground out to squash the threat. Cousins' double, a walk and a hit batter filled the bases for the visitors with one out in the fourth but they came up empty again, as Chris Hatcher and Stone struck out to end the inning.
Butler departed after five frames, allowing four hits, walking one and punching out seven. He was followed to the hill by Mike McClendon, who retired the first four hitters he faced before Hatcher jumped on the first pitch he saw and clubbed his eighth home run of the season, and second at "the Joe," to break up a scoreless game and put the Suns in the lead. De La Cruz added a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded against Casey Baron in the eighth inning to give the Suns' a two-run cushion.
Stone gave up three hits, walked three and struck out a pair to earn his seventh win of the season. He has now thrown 11 innings in two turns against the Stars without allowing an earned run. Levale Speigner tossed a shutout sixth inning and was followed in the seventh by Dan Jennings, who gave up a leadoff double to JR Hopf and was removed in favor of Garrett Parcell. The right-hander stranded Hopf, who advanced on a ground out, at third base with one out after getting pinch-hitter Drew Anderson to foul out and Freddy Parejo to pop out.
Kasey Olenberger worked a scoreless eighth inning for the visitors and gave way to Matt Peterson, who worked a perfect ninth inning to nail down his third save of the series and Southern League record-tying 36th of the season. The Stars have been blanked in three of their last four games and have scored four runs over the last six contests. Huntsville has scored one run on 13 hits in the three games against the Suns, who have received 8 1/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen.
The series continues Sunday afternoon with Huntsville sending right-hander Mark Holliman to the hill against Suns' right-hander Jarrett Santos. Coverage of the game begins at 12:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
Southern League Stories from September 5, 2009
- Blunders prove costly for Jaxx in loss to Smokies - Jackson Generals
- Biscuits Charge Early, Hold on Late, 8-6 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Cashner's Gem Gives Smokies 3-1 Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Barons Set All-Time Mark For Winning Percentage - Birmingham Barons
- Parker Single Lifts Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Barons Edge Lookouts, 5-4 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Suns Slow Down Stars, Again - Huntsville Stars
- Suns Clinch Series over Stars on Saturday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
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