Watkins leads BayBears over Stars to end skid
Published on June 3, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
Huntsville, Ala. â The Mobile BayBears entered Tuesday's afternoon having lost their last seven games away from Hank Aaron Stadium. Steve Watkins took the ball for Mobile and put that streak to an end. Watkins (4-3) tied his own team season high as he threw eight innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits while striking out six.
Speaking of strikeouts, Rusty Tucker put on a show in the bottom of the ninth as he struck out the side on nine pitches to earn his 15th save. The feat was made all the more impressive when the fact that no Huntsville batter even fouled off a pitch is added to the story.
The BayBears' offense was supplied by Rico Washington, who slammed a two-run homer off of Stars' starter Pedro Liriano in the fifth and drove in four runs, Todd Donovan, who went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and three runs scored, and Yamid Haad who added a solo homer in the sixth against lefty Brian Adams. Khalil Greene's first-inning sacrifice fly accounted for the BayBears' first run.
Stars' shortstop J.J. Hardy drove in all three runs against Watkins, with a solo homerun in the first and a two-run shot in the sixth.
"The most satisfying thing about this game is the way Steve Watkins came out and pitched," BayBears managaer Craig Colbert said after the game. "For Steve to come out and throw eight great innings after we had lost four straight was a real key for us. He's been doing that for a month and that's what we needed today."
The BayBears have Wednesday off as they return home to begin a five-game series with the Jacksonville Suns. Game one of the series is Thursday at 7:05. RHP Chris Oxspring with get the start on the mound for Mobile.
Southern League Stories from June 3, 2003
- Barons Walk Past D-Jaxx, 2-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Watkins leads BayBears over Stars to end skid - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies one-hit Suns, win 6-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Lookouts Get Retribution from Rays - Orlando Rays
- Cummings, Smokies Blank Suns - Knoxville Smokies
- Phillies Purchase Cosbey's Contract - Huntsville Stars
- Hardy Homers Twice in Stars' 6-3 Loss - Huntsville Stars
- Isringhausen to Pitch for Tennessee Thursday - Knoxville Smokies
- Gbraves staff wheels into Sunset Park on June 12th - Mississippi Braves
- Barons Pound West Tenn, 10-1 - Birmingham Barons
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