Ungs and Shiell Shut Down Smokies

Published on July 3, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Nic Ungs threw seven shutout innings and received home run support from Matt LaPorta and Cole Gillespie in Huntsville's 4-0 win over Tennessee in the last of a four-game set at Smokies Park. The Stars split the series and split their 10-game road trip to return home at 8-8 in the second half and three games behind the North Division leading Smokies, who are 11-5. The Stars completed their sixth shutout win of the season.

Mat Gamel led off the fourth inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and then came into score when LaPorta ended a 46 at-bat home run drought with his league-leading 20th long ball of the season. LaPorta's last home run had come in the next to last game of the first half at Jacksonville on June 14.

LaPorta drew a walk with two out in the sixth and scored when Gillespie followed with a monstrous home run, his 11th of the year, off the top of the scoreboard in left-center field. It was his second long ball on the trip and second since May 28 at Mobile. Alex Maestri was taken out after six innings in his second double-A start, giving up four runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out five. He suffered the loss and fell to 0-1.

Ungs did not allow his first hit until Matt Craig's two-out single in the fourth and allowed only pinch-hitter Matt Matulia in the sixth to advance as far as third base. He left after retiring the side in order in the seventh, having thrown 78 pitches and recording 13 ground ball outs. Ungs earned his first win with the Stars and his first since his initial start of the year for triple-A Nashville on April 6.

Jason Shiell took over and threw a scoreless eighth inning before yielding singles to Nate Spears and Tyler Colvin to open the ninth. The veteran right-hander struck out Matt Craig before catcher Martin Maldonado, in his first double-A game, picked off Colvin at first base for the second out. Doug Deeds drew a walk but Jake Fox lined out to center field to end the game.

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Southern League Stories from July 3, 2008


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