Thompson, Smitherman Lead Lookouts Past Stars, 5-0

Published on July 27, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Chattanooga, TN – Travis Thompson shackled the Stars' offense, and Chattanooga had Futures Game star Stephen Smitherman back in the lineup. The combination proved deadly, as the Lookouts shut out Huntsville, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon at Bell South Park. The Stars (18-16, 58-44) could retain a share of first place in the Southern League West if Birmingham falls to Mobile tonight.

Thompson was not overpowering, just effective. He fanned five and allowed only three hits and one walk over seven shutout innings in his first start against Huntsville this season. Thompson also singled twice, scored a run and finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Thompson (2-0) has won both his starts for the Lookouts since his recall from triple-A Louisville. Reliever Kris Keller finished for Chattanooga, tossing the eighth and ninth and giving up just one hit and one walk while fanning one.

Smitherman arrived in Chattanooga Saturday and was in the lineup for the series opener, but a 104-degree temperature caused skipper Phillip Wellman to send him home to get some rest. He clearly felt better Sunday afternoon, lining a single, lashing a double and driving home two in a 2-for-4 performance. Lookout Edwin Encarnacion added a single and double, driving in one and scoring another.

Dave Nolasco (0-1) made his Stars and double-A debut, allowing four runs, two earned, on nine hits and one walk with no strikeouts over five innings. Nolasco's own error – he bobbled a sacrifice bunt by Alejandro Diaz with runners at first and second – sparked the Lookouts' three-run third and led to a pair of unearned runs. Stars lefty Brian Adams gave up one run on two hits while fanning two over two innings of relief, and Ken Ray tossed a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit and striking out one.

"If we make that play on the bunt and get the out at third, it's a different game," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said, "but I give them credit, too. Their starter (Thompson) pitched a good ballgame. He mixed up his pitches well and kept us off-balance."

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Southern League Stories from July 27, 2003


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