View Full Version : 2006 AA Scoreboard: Huntsville
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_06_hunaax_msbaax_1 target=_blank>Huntsville 4 Mississippi 2</a>
Huntsville Top 1st
Callix Crabbe walks.
With Drew Anderson batting, Callix Crabbe steals (1) 2nd base.
Drew Anderson walks.
Steve Moss grounds into a force out, third baseman Martin Prado to second baseman Luis Hernandez. Callix Crabbe to 3rd. Drew Anderson out at 2nd. Steve Moss to 1st.
Ron Acuna singles on a ground ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Callix Crabbe scores. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Adam Heether flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Lou Palmisano strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 1st
Gregor Blanco called out on strikes.
Martin Prado singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss.
With Yunel Escobar batting, Martin Prado steals (1) 2nd base.
Yunel Escobar doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Ron Acuna. Martin Prado scores.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Matt Esquivel strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 2nd
Jeffrey Eure called out on strikes.
Ozzie Chavez walks.
Ben Sheets out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Michael RosamondJr. to second baseman Luis Hernandez. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.
Callix Crabbe called out on strikes.
Mississippi Bottom 2nd
Michael RosamondJr. grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Onil Joseph strikes out swinging.
Luis Hernandez triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Steve Moss.
Sean White strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 3rd
Drew Anderson flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Steve Moss doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Ron Acuna called out on strikes.
Adam Heether walks.
Lou Palmisano strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 3rd
Gregor Blanco reaches on fielding error by shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
With Martin Prado batting, Gregor Blanco steals (1) 2nd base.
Martin Prado grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Gregor Blanco to 3rd.
Yunel Escobar singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Gregor Blanco scores.
With Jarrod Saltalamacchia batting, Yunel Escobar advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.
With Jarrod Saltalamacchia batting, passed ball by Lou Palmisano, Yunel Escobar to 3rd.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Pitcher Change: Carlos Villanueva replaces Ben Sheets, batting 9th.
Matt Esquivel grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 4th
Jeffrey Eure singles on a ground ball to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Carlos Villanueva out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Martin Prado to second baseman Luis Hernandez. Jeffrey Eure to 2nd.
Callix Crabbe singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Jeffrey Eure scores.
Pitcher Change: Paul Bush replaces Sean White, batting 9th.
Drew Anderson grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Mississippi Bottom 4th
Michael RosamondJr. lines out to third baseman Adam Heether.
Onil Joseph grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Luis Hernandez lines out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Huntsville Top 5th
Steve Moss strikes out swinging.
Ron Acuna flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Adam Heether flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Mississippi Bottom 5th
Paul Bush called out on strikes.
Gregor Blanco strikes out swinging.
Martin Prado grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 6th
Lou Palmisano walks.
Jeffrey Eure homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Lou Palmisano scores.
Ozzie Chavez walks.
Carlos Villanueva bunt pops out to pitcher Paul Bush.
Callix Crabbe flies into double play, right fielder Matt Esquivel to first baseman Michael RosamondJr. Ozzie Chavez doubled off 1st.
Mississippi Bottom 6th
Yunel Escobar walks.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Matt Esquivel singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew Anderson. Yunel Escobar to 2nd.
Michael RosamondJr. strikes out swinging.
Onil Joseph grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Phil Stockman replaces Paul Bush, batting 7th.
Defensive Substitution: Carl Loadenthal replaces left fielder Onil Joseph, batting 9th.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss pops out to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Ron Acuna grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Mississippi Bottom 7th
Luis Hernandez pops out to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Carl Loadenthal grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Gregor Blanco singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Martin Prado pops out to second baseman Callix Crabbe in foul territory.
Huntsville Top 8th
Adam Heether called out on strikes.
Lou Palmisano grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Jeffrey Eure strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 8th
Yunel Escobar strikes out swinging.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Matt Esquivel flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Huntsville Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Manny Acosta replaces Phil Stockman, batting 7th.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Kennard Bibbs replaces Carlos Villanueva.
Kennard Bibbs reaches on fielding error by first baseman Michael RosamondJr. Kennard Bibbs to 2nd.
With Callix Crabbe batting, Kennard Bibbs caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to third baseman Martin Prado.
Callix Crabbe walks.
Drew Anderson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Callix Crabbe to 3rd.
Steve Moss grounds into a force out, third baseman Martin Prado to second baseman Luis Hernandez. Drew Anderson out at 2nd.
Mississippi Bottom 9th
Pitcher Change: Alec Zumwalt replaces Carlos Villanueva, batting 9th.
Michael RosamondJr. grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Dax Norris replaces Manny Acosta.
Dax Norris flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Luis Hernandez walks.
Carl Loadenthal grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
<b>Sheets, Stars top Braves</b>
Ben Sheets got the Opening Day start for the Huntsville Stars, who posted a 4-2 victory over the Mississippi Braves on Thursday.
After testing out a strained muscle in his upper back in a bullpen session before Milwaukee's game on Monday, Sheets was sent to Jackson, Miss., to begin rehabbing with the Brewers' Double-A affiliate.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who was on a 50-pitch limit, allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. He hit 96 mph on the radar gun and threw 36 of 49 pitches for strikes.
Sheets had not pitched in the Minors since 2001, when he went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis. In 2005 with the Brewers, the former U.S. Olympian posted a 10-9 record with a 3.33 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 156 2/3 innings.
Jeffrey Eure's two-run homer in the sixth inning off Braves reliever Paul Bush (0-1) gave the Stars a 4-2 lead. Eure led Huntsville with two hits and two runs scored.
Carlos Villanueva (1-0) relieved Sheets and threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one. Alec Zumwalt tossed a hitless ninth for the save.
Bush was charged with two runs on one hit with a strikeout and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Yunel Escobar went 2-for-3 and drove in both of the Braves' runs.
The teams play again at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday.
Jeffrey Eure is the Huntsville Star of the game as he hit a 2 Run Homer and had a Single and scored a Run.
Also Be sheets making a rehab start pitched 2 2/3 Innings giving 2 Runs, 1 Earned with 5 Strikeouts.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=775 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=775</a>
<a href=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3290103 target=_blank>http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3290103</a>
<b><font size=4>Stars shine in opener</font></b>
Eure's 2-run homer powers Huntsville past Braves
PEARL, Miss. - Not a bad luxury for the Huntsville Stars.
The 2004 Southern League home run champ is on the premises in the person of Greg Sain.
But it turns out to be the man with whom he'll be sharing first base who launched a towering, no-doubt-about-it homer in his Double-A debut to give the Stars a 4-2 opening-night victory over the Mississippi Braves on Thursday.
Jeff Eure, a 25-year-old Pennsylvanian, ripped a two-run shot in the sixth inning to give Huntsville only its second victory in a season-opener in five years. It also matches the win total of the opening 2005 road trip, on which the Stars went 1-7.
"It was two strikes and I was just trying to put the ball in play. Luckily, it wound up in that jet stream,'' said Eure, referring to a wind that blew out to left.
Eure's homer earned the win for Carlos Villanueva, who pitched 51/3 innings, allowed just two hits and struck out five. Former Braves farmhand Alec Zumwalt earned the save, allowing only a walk in his one inning of work.
For the first of what may well be a long stretch of games, substitute umpires were used, with the regular minor league umpires having gone on strike Thursday. There were no incidents nor did either side seem to register any more complaints than typical.
The Stars continue their five-game visit here - the Southern League has adopted the longer series this season in what is expected to be a money-saving device - tonight against Atlanta's Double-A affiliate, with Tim Dillard starting for Huntsville and Brady Endl going for the M-Braves.
A more notable starting pitcher worked for Huntsville Thursday night. Ben Sheets, making a rehab start for the Stars, allowed four hits and two runs, one unearned.
The Stars staked him to a 1-0 lead when Callix Crabbe led off the first with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a well-stung Ronald Acuna single to right field.
Eure - pronounced "yur'' - led off the fourth with a single and scored Huntsville's second run on a two-out Crabbe single.
The tandem of Eure and Sain, who is nursing a sore hamstring now, is "a good problem to have,'' said coach Sandy Guerrero. "Jeff can play outfield and first and third. We didn't have anybody last year who could come off the bench and do that.''
Eure has been on the Stars' roster for the past three spring trainings, never making the cut. Still, the notion of a different profession was never considered.
"If that thought ever came across my mind, I would have gotten a real job,'' he said. "I've been working hard. I had a great spring training. I earned my spot on the team. I'm just glad to be here, to have contributed.''
<b><font size=4>Rehab start goes well for Stars' Sheets</font></b>
PEARL, Miss. - Ben Sheets' rehab start for the Huntsville Stars Thursday may have resulted in a pair of runs and four Mississippi hits, but the reviews were terrific.
"I felt great out there,'' Sheets said. "My velocity was there. I had a good curveball. I've just got to locate a little better on my fastball.''
"He felt very strong out there," said Stars pitching coach Rich Sauveur. "He felt like he could go a little longer. He had good velocity on the fastball and the curve was sharp.''
Sheets, who last pitched for the Brewers on Aug. 26, 2005, before being shut down, threw 49 pitches, 37 for strikes, struck out five and allowed four hits and two runs, one unearned. His fastball topped out at 96 mph.
Sheets, placed on the disabled list by the Brewers with a right posterior shoulder strain, is expected to make another rehab start in Nashville next week. He last pitched for the Stars on June 8, 2000, when he wrapped up a 13-game stint with the Stars with a 5-2 mark and 1.88 ERA.
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/SPORTS09/604070380/1254 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/SPORTS09/604070380/1254</a>
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/SPORTS09/604070349/1254 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/SPORTS09/604070349/1254</a>
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_07_hunaax_msbaax_1 target=_blank>Huntsville 4 Mississippi 2</a>
Huntsville Top 1st
Callix Crabbe singles on a ground ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
With Drew Anderson batting, passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Callix Crabbe to 2nd.
Drew Anderson homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Callix Crabbe scores.
Steve Moss flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Ron Acuna flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Adam Heether walks.
Lou Palmisano singles on a ground ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Adam Heether to 2nd.
Jeffrey Eure walks. Adam Heether to 3rd. Lou Palmisano to 2nd.
Ozzie Chavez pops out to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia in foul territory.
Mississippi Bottom 1st
Gregor Blanco grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Martin Prado grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Yunel Escobar flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Huntsville Top 2nd
Tim Dillard grounds out to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Callix Crabbe flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Drew Anderson lines out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Mississippi Bottom 2nd
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Matt Esquivel grounds out, first baseman Jeffrey Eure to pitcher Tim Dillard.
Michael RosamondJr. grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 3rd
Steve Moss strikes out swinging.
Ron Acuna grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Adam Heether flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Mississippi Bottom 3rd
Onil Joseph flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Luis Hernandez flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
David Coggin grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 4th
Lou Palmisano flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Jeffrey Eure doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd.
Tim Dillard singles on a ground ball to pitcher David Coggin. Jeffrey Eure scores.
Callix Crabbe grounds out, first baseman Michael RosamondJr. to pitcher David Coggin.
Mississippi Bottom 4th
Gregor Blanco doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Martin Prado strikes out swinging.
Yunel Escobar walks.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Matt Esquivel grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Yunel Escobar out at 2nd.
Huntsville Top 5th
Pitcher Change: Ryan Basner replaces David Coggin, batting 9th.
Drew Anderson grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Ron Acuna grounds out, first baseman Michael RosamondJr. to pitcher Ryan Basner.
Mississippi Bottom 5th
Michael RosamondJr. flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson in foul territory.
Onil Joseph strikes out swinging.
Luis Hernandez grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 6th
Adam Heether flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Lou Palmisano strikes out swinging.
Jeffrey Eure singles on a ground ball to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Ozzie Chavez doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Jeffrey Eure scores.
Tim Dillard flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Mississippi Bottom 6th
Ryan Basner flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Gregor Blanco grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Martin Prado grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 7th
Callix Crabbe bunt grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Mississippi Bottom 7th
Yunel Escobar singles on a line drive to center fielder Steve Moss.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Pitcher Change: Steve Bray replaces Tim Dillard, batting 9th.
Matt Esquivel flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Michael RosamondJr. homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Yunel Escobar scores.
Onil Joseph called out on strikes.
Huntsville Top 8th
Ron Acuna grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Adam Heether grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Michael RosamondJr.
Lou Palmisano called out on strikes.
Mississippi Bottom 8th
Luis Hernandez flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ray Serrano replaces Ryan Basner.
Ray Serrano pops out to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Gregor Blanco singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Martin Prado pops out to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Huntsville Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Brad Baker replaces Ryan Basner, batting 9th.
Jeffrey Eure pops out to first baseman Michael RosamondJr. in foul territory.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Kennard Bibbs replaces Steve Bray.
Kennard Bibbs called out on strikes.
Mississippi Bottom 9th
Pitcher Change: Joe Winkelsas replaces Steve Bray, batting 9th.
Yunel Escobar strikes out swinging.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia lines out to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Matt Esquivel singles on a pop up to catcher Lou Palmisano.
Michael RosamondJr. singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether. Matt Esquivel to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Dax Norris replaces Onil Joseph.
Dax Norris grounds out, pitcher Joe Winkelsas to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
<b>Stars double up Braves</b>
Drew Anderson staked Huntsville to an early lead and Jeff Eure provided valuable insurance as the Stars beat the Braves, 4-2, on Friday at Trustmark Park.
Anderson wasted little time putting the visiting Stars (2-0) ahead when he blasted a two-run homer over the right-field wall in the first inning off Braves (0-2) starter David Coggin.
Eure doubled, singled and scored a pair of runs to pad Huntsville's lead in the middle innings. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Anderson led the Stars with a pair of RBIs.
Tim Dillard (1-0) earned the win with 6 1/3 solid innings, holding the Braves to a run on two hits and a walk while fanning three . Joe Winkelsas gave up a couple of two-out hits in the ninth but retired the final batter to record the save.
Mississippi's Michael Rosamond Jr. launched a two-run homer, which would have tied the game had it not been for Eure's efforts. Rosamond was 2-for-4 and leadoff man Gregor Blanco singled and doubled for the Braves.
Coggin (0-1) suffered the loss, yielding three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings. Ryan Basner fanned five in four innings out of the Mississippi bullpen.
The two squads lock horns again on Saturday at 8:05 p.m. ET in Pearl, Miss.
Drew Anderson
Drew who hit a 2 Run Home Run is the Huntsville Player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=776 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=776</a>
<a href=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3290746 target=_blank>http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3290746</a>
<b><font size=4>A Star-filled night for Dillard family</font></b>
Huntsville pitcher makes mother proud in 4-2 win
PEARL, Miss. - Mary Jane Dillard, baseball wife and baseball mom, had scorebook in hand and cell phone close by in the first-base box seats. Habitually, she keeps track of the game in the intricate hieroglyphics of baseball scorekeeping.
"It's the way I stay focused,'' she explained.
Friday's scorecard was a keeper. Huntsville Stars 4, Mississippi Braves 2.
More importantly to her, 61/3 innings, two hits, one run, one walk, three strikeouts - the pitching line for her son, Tim Dillard, the 22-year-old Huntsville right-hander.
It was a blueprint for efficient, put-the-ball-in-play pitching. Said manager Don Money, "He goes right after the hitters.''
Mary Jane's cell phone rang late in the game, a call from her husband Steve, a former major leaguer and now coach with the Cardinals' Quad Cities farm club.
Except for Steve's prior commitment, it was a nice Dillard family homecoming. They live in Saltillo, a suburb of Tupelo, a couple of hours to the north, and Tim played at Itawamba Junior College (as a pitcher and catcher) and at Ole Miss. Mary Jane works at a hospital in Tupelo and saves up off days for her baseball trips, to be divided this summer between the short hauls to nearby stops and some visits to the Midwest League.
"I was a little nervous,'' Dillard said. Asked when he finally got over the jitters, he admitted, refreshingly, "I don't know if I did. I couldn't sit down (in the dugout). Especially hitting. You're scared and the adrenaline is pumping at the same time.''
As for his performance, "I know some stuff I need to work on, but for the most part I felt comfortable out there.''
This five-game series continues tonight at 7:05, with Corey Thurman, a former big-leaguer with Toronto, pitching for the Stars against Chris Waters.
After finishing up in Mississippi, the Stars return to Huntsville for the home opener Tuesday against Birmingham.
The Stars gave Dillard a 2-0 lead in the first after a Callix Crabbe single and a Drew Anderson homer to right into a 30-mph crosswind.
Jeff Eure, Thursday's hero with a two-run homer, was the catalyst for the next two Huntsville runs, doubling in the fourth and scoring on a 35-foot topped grounder by Dillard, then singling with two out in the sixth and scoring on an Ozzie Chavez double.
The Braves ended their 12-inning scoreless streak when Stars' reliever Stephen Bray yielded a wind-aided two-run homer to former Ole Miss player Mike Rosamond in the seventh.
It was a nice night for the Ole Miss Alumni Association. Steve Dillard also played for the Rebels before his big-league career with the Red Sox, Tigers, Cubs and White Sox.
His father, Tim said, has had an impact on him "my whole life. Most kids were watching cartoons. We were playing baseball. I loved baseball. We had a Little League field in the backyard.
"It was one thing every day, ground balls, pop-ups, catching, hitting.''
Dillard's versatility as a hitter and pitcher came from his dad, too. "He always said, the fastest way to get to the big leagues was as a switch-hitting catcher.''
The night's irony: the last batter Dillard faced was Braves' catching uber-prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter. Dillard struck him out.
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/SPORTS09/604080345/1254 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/SPORTS09/604080345/1254</a>
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_08_hunaax_msbaax_1 target=_blank>Mississippi 6 Huntsville 2</a>
Huntsville Top 1st
Callix Crabbe lines out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Drew Anderson hit by pitch.
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Dax Norris. Drew Anderson to 2nd.
Ron Acuna walks.
Jeffrey Eure called out on strikes.
Mississippi Bottom 1st
Gregor Blanco strikes out swinging.
Martin Prado grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Yunel Escobar called out on strikes.
Huntsville Top 2nd
Jean Boscan walks.
Kennard Bibbs grounds into a force out, second baseman Josh Arteaga to shortstop Yunel Escobar. Jean Boscan out at 2nd. Kennard Bibbs to 1st.
Ozzie Chavez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Yunel Escobar. Kennard Bibbs to 2nd.
Corey Thurman ground bunts into a force out, pitcher Brady Endl to third baseman Martin Prado. Kennard Bibbs out at 3rd. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd. Corey Thurman advances to 2nd, on throwing error by third baseman Martin Prado.
Callix Crabbe doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Ozzie Chavez scores. Corey Thurman scores.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 2nd
Jarrod Saltalamacchia walks.
Dax Norris strikes out swinging.
Matt Esquivel grounds into a force out, first baseman Jeffrey Eure to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Jarrod Saltalamacchia out at 2nd. Matt Esquivel to 1st.
With Carl Loadenthal batting, Matt Esquivel caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Jean Boscan to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Huntsville Top 3rd
Adam Heether walks.
Ron Acuna grounds into double play, third baseman Martin Prado to second baseman Josh Arteaga to first baseman Dax Norris. Adam Heether out at 2nd.
Jeffrey Eure grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 3rd
Carl Loadenthal grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Josh Arteaga strikes out swinging.
Brady Endl pops out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure in foul territory.
Huntsville Top 4th
Jean Boscan flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Kennard Bibbs strikes out swinging.
Ozzie Chavez strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 4th
Gregor Blanco grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Martin Prado grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Yunel Escobar walks.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 5th
Pitcher Change: Bryan Digby replaces Brady Endl, batting 9th.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Steve Moss replaces Corey Thurman.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Callix Crabbe walks.
With Drew Anderson batting, Callix Crabbe steals (3) 2nd base.
Drew Anderson walks.
Adam Heether grounds out, pitcher Bryan Digby to first baseman Dax Norris. Callix Crabbe to 3rd. Drew Anderson to 2nd.
Ron Acuna walks.
Jeffrey Eure grounds into a force out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to second baseman Josh Arteaga. Ron Acuna out at 2nd.
Mississippi Bottom 5th
Pitcher Change: Mike Meyers replaces Corey Thurman, batting 9th.
Dax Norris singles on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Matt Esquivel singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna. Dax Norris to 2nd.
Carl Loadenthal doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Ron Acuna. Dax Norris scores. Matt Esquivel to 3rd.
Josh Arteaga grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Matt Esquivel scores. Carl Loadenthal to 3rd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Onil Joseph replaces Bryan Digby.
Onil Joseph singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kennard Bibbs. Carl Loadenthal scores.
Gregor Blanco reaches on force attempt, throwing error by shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Onil Joseph to 2nd.
Martin Prado doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna. Onil Joseph scores. Gregor Blanco scores.
Pitcher Change: Matt Yeatman replaces Mike Meyers, batting 9th.
Yunel Escobar strikes out swinging and Martin Prado caught stealing 3rd, catcher Jean Boscan to third baseman Adam Heether.
Huntsville Top 6th
Pitcher Change: Phil Stockman replaces Bryan Digby, batting 9th.
Jean Boscan strikes out swinging.
Kennard Bibbs bunt grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Dax Norris.
Ozzie Chavez strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 6th
Jarrod Saltalamacchia walks.
Dax Norris singles on a fly ball to center fielder Kennard Bibbs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia to 2nd.
Matt Esquivel hit by pitch. Jarrod Saltalamacchia to 3rd. Dax Norris to 2nd.
Carl Loadenthal flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Josh Arteaga out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Drew Anderson. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scores.
Phil Stockman strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 7th
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Lou Palmisano replaces Matt Yeatman.
Lou Palmisano strikes out swinging.
Callix Crabbe flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Drew Anderson walks.
Adam Heether flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Mississippi Bottom 7th
Pitcher Change: Gerrit Simpson replaces Matt Yeatman, batting 9th.
Gregor Blanco strikes out swinging.
Martin Prado singles on a ground ball to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Yunel Escobar grounds into double play, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Martin Prado out at 2nd.
Huntsville Top 8th
Ron Acuna strikes out swinging.
Jeffrey Eure pops out to second baseman Josh Arteaga in foul territory.
Jean Boscan strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 8th
Jarrod Saltalamacchia flies out to center fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Dax Norris singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Matt Esquivel strikes out swinging.
Carl Loadenthal grounds out, pitcher Gerrit Simpson to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Glenn Tucker replaces Phil Stockman, batting 9th.
Kennard Bibbs walks.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a fly ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Kennard Bibbs to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Guilder Rodriguez replaces Gerrit Simpson.
Guilder Rodriguez lines out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Callix Crabbe pops out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Drew Anderson grounds out to first baseman Dax Norris.
<b>Braves two-hit Stars</b>
Four Mississippi pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Braves posted their first win of the season, 6-2, over the visiting Stars on Saturday.
Mississippi starter Brady Endl allowed two unearned runs and one hit over four innings, walking three and striking out four.
Bryan Digby (1-0) pitched a scoreless fifth to pick up the win. Phil Stockman and Glenn Tucker combined to shut down the Stars (1-2) over the final four frames.
The Braves (2-1) trailed 2-0 before breaking through for five runs in the fifth. Martin Prado, who went 2-for-4, highlighted the decisive rally with a two-run double.
Dax Norris went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Josh Arteaga drove in two runs for Mississippi, which lost the first two games of the series by identical 4-2 scores.
Callix Crabbe went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for Huntsville. Ozzie Chavez had the only other hit for the Stars , a ninth-inning single.
The teams will complete their series at 2:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=777 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=777</a>
<a href=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3291348 target=_blank>http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3291348</a>
<b><font size=4>Hitting lets Stars and Thurman down</font></b>
Pitcher making comeback solid but Huntsville loses
PEARL, Miss. - Mapquest might try to disprove it, but this is halfway between Florence, Ky., and Toronto, Canada. At least it is for Stars pitcher Corey Thurman.
Thurman, a 27-year-old right-hander, is plotting a major comeback trip. "I've got to get back up there (to the big leagues),'' he said. Four innings of no-hit pitching, with five strikeouts and a devilish changeup, was a pretty good start.
"To be honest, I look at it as a steppingstone, getting back into the game, coming off this (shoulder) surgery,'' Thurman said. "I felt great just being out there, being in competition.''
Alas, Huntsville let a two-run lead go to waste and lost its first game of the season, a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Mississippi Braves Saturday. The Stars managed only two hits and despite the 2-1 mark are batting only .161 as a team, with 26 strikeouts, 10 Saturday night.
"It's still early,'' said manager Don Money. "We're OK as long as the guys don't start wracking their (heads) over it.''
The Stars and Braves play game four of the five-game series today at 1:05, then Huntsville opens its home season Tuesday at 7:05 against Birmingham.
For the third straight game, Huntsville took an early lead, this time on a Callix Crabbe two-run double after a pair of M-Braves errors extended the inning.
After Thurman's exit, the bullpen let the lead dissolve. Mike Meyers gave up two soft singles, then a double by Carl Loadenthal. That was followed by another hit, an error and poorly played fly, all leading to a five-run inning.
Meyers was charged with four earned runs. In 21 innings last season at Huntsville, over the course of 11 appearances, Meyers allowed a total of only four earned runs.
Before the game, while teammates watched the movie "Pure Country" on the clubhouse TV, Thurman was plugged into a headset, listening to Jagged Edge and some mellow music. "It calms me down,'' said Thurman, who admits to having "a football player mentality.''
He had rocketed through the Royals organization, then reached the majors with Toronto in 2002, pitching in 43 games. He pitched six more the following season.
Then his right shoulder went bad. He plummeted to the low minors, then eventually underwent surgery and had to hook on with the Florence (Ky.) Freedom of the independent Frontier League. The Brewers eventually gave him a contract.
"I want to take it day by day,'' Thurman said. "Hopefully my arm will stay healthy and I can have a good season.''
To be nitpicky, Thurman threw only four first-pitch strikes.
But, said pitching coach Rich Sauveur, "I'm real happy with what he did. We had a plan going out there, and he stuck to it and did a great job.''
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SPORTS09/604090386/1266 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SPORTS09/604090386/1266</a>
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SPORTS09/604090394/0/SPORTS target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/SPORTS09/604090394/0/SPORTS</a>
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_09_hunaax_msbaax_1 target=_blank>Mississippi 3 Huntsville 1</a>
Huntsville Top 1st
Callix Crabbe grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Dax Norris.
Drew Anderson flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph in foul territory.
Steve Moss singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Ron Acuna walks. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Adam Heether lines out to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 1st
Carl Loadenthal grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Martin Prado walks.
Yunel Escobar called out on strikes.
Dax Norris pops out to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Huntsville Top 2nd
Lou Palmisano walks.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Ozzie Chavez strikes out swinging.
Jeff Housman grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 2nd
Matt Esquivel flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Onil Joseph strikes out swinging.
Luis Hernandez strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 3rd
Callix Crabbe grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Dax Norris.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss singles on a ground ball to third baseman Martin Prado.
Ron Acuna singles on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Adam Heether singles on a ground ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Steve Moss to 3rd. Ron Acuna to 2nd.
Lou Palmisano flies out to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Mississippi Bottom 3rd
Ray Serrano singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Chris Waters ground bunts into a force out, pitcher Jeff Housman to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Ray Serrano out at 2nd. Chris Waters to 1st.
Carl Loadenthal flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Martin Prado singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Chris Waters to 2nd.
Yunel Escobar doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna. Chris Waters scores. Martin Prado scores.
Dax Norris strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 4th
Jeffrey Eure strikes out swinging.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Jeff Housman bunt pops out to pitcher Chris Waters.
With Callix Crabbe batting, Ozzie Chavez picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Chris Waters to first baseman Dax Norris to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Mississippi Bottom 4th
Matt Esquivel strikes out swinging.
Onil Joseph strikes out swinging.
Luis Hernandez grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 5th
Callix Crabbe flies out to center fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Drew Anderson triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel.
Steve Moss walks.
Ron Acuna grounds out to first baseman Dax Norris. Drew Anderson scores. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Pitcher Change: Paul Bush replaces Chris Waters, batting 9th.
Adam Heether pops out to first baseman Dax Norris in foul territory.
Mississippi Bottom 5th
Ray Serrano grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Paul Bush singles on a line drive to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Carl Loadenthal grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Paul Bush out at 2nd. Carl Loadenthal to 1st.
Martin Prado walks. Carl Loadenthal to 2nd.
Yunel Escobar strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Top 6th
Lou Palmisano singles on a fly ball to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Jeffrey Eure strikes out swinging.
Ozzie Chavez pops out to second baseman Luis Hernandez.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Kennard Bibbs replaces Jeff Housman.
Kennard Bibbs singles on a fly ball to right fielder Matt Esquivel. Lou Palmisano to 3rd.
Callix Crabbe flies out to center fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Mississippi Bottom 6th
Pitcher Change: Steve Bray replaces Jeff Housman, batting 9th.
Dax Norris flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Matt Esquivel strikes out swinging.
Onil Joseph hits a ground-rule double (1) on a fly ball to right-center field.
Luis Hernandez grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 7th
Drew Anderson pops out to second baseman Luis Hernandez.
Steve Moss flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Ron Acuna walks.
Adam Heether flies out to center fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Mississippi Bottom 7th
Ray Serrano singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Paul Bush strikes out on foul bunt.
Carl Loadenthal grounds into a force out, first baseman Jeffrey Eure to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Ray Serrano out at 2nd. Carl Loadenthal to 1st.
With Martin Prado batting, Carl Loadenthal steals (1) 2nd base.
Martin Prado grounds out, first baseman Jeffrey Eure to pitcher Steve Bray.
Huntsville Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Brad Baker replaces Paul Bush, batting 9th.
Lou Palmisano flies out to center fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to center fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Ozzie Chavez doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Guilder Rodriguez replaces Steve Bray.
Guilder Rodriguez grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 8th
Pitcher Change: Andy Pratt replaces Steve Bray, batting 9th.
Yunel Escobar walks.
Dax Norris singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew Anderson. Yunel Escobar to 2nd.
Matt Esquivel grounds into double play, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Yunel Escobar to 3rd. Dax Norris out at 2nd.
Onil Joseph singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ron Acuna. Yunel Escobar scores.
With Luis Hernandez batting, Onil Joseph steals (1) 2nd base.
Luis Hernandez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Onil Joseph out at home, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to catcher Lou Palmisano.
Huntsville Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Manny Acosta replaces Brad Baker, batting 9th.
Callix Crabbe walks.
Drew Anderson grounds out, third baseman Martin Prado to first baseman Dax Norris. Callix Crabbe to 2nd.
Steve Moss grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Dax Norris. Callix Crabbe to 3rd.
Ron Acuna called out on strikes.
<b>Braves drop Stars</b>
Yunel Escobar's two-run double in the third inning proved to be the difference for Mississippi in its 3-1 victory over visiting Huntsville on Sunday.
Starter Chris Waters scattered six hits and three walks for the Braves (2-2) while giving up one earned run and striking out three in 4 2/3 of an inning. Reliever Paul Bush (1-1) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, to pick up the win.
Mississippi added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Onil Joseph reached base on a seeing-eye single to drive in Escobar. Joseph and Ray Serrano each had two hits.
The Stars' run came on Ron Acuna's fielder's choice grounder that scored Drew Anderson. Ozzie Chavez and Steve Moss had a pair of hits for Huntsville (2-2).
Starter Jeff Housman (0-1) took the loss for the Stars, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in five innings.
The teams will play the rubber match of the five-game series Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Trustmark Park.
Ron Acuna had a Single and had an RBI is Huntsville player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=778 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=778</a>
<a href=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3291913 target=_blank>http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3291913</a>
<b><font size=4>Stars miss opportunities</font></b>
Huntsville leaves 12 men on base in loss at Mississippi
PEARL, Miss. - Stars manager Don Money was counting out loud, doing the math on one of the charts stacked on his desk and scribbling in numbers. Here's the most screwy arithmetic: 9 + 5 = 1.
That's hits plus walks ... but adds up to only one run in Huntsville's 3-1 loss to the Mississippi Braves here on a glorious, windy Sunday afternoon.
"We had opportunities to get 'em in, but we couldn't,'' Money said of the 12 men left on base. As a result, the Stars are now 2-2 on this young season.
The final game of the Stars' visit here comes tonight at 7:05, with Khalid Ballouli pitching against Daniel Curtis, one of only two right-handed starters the Stars will face in a seven-game stretch. Huntsville's home opener is Tuesday at 7:05 against Birmingham.
The Stars had runners aboard in every inning and got runners in scoring position in six of them. They even loaded the bases in the third with successive two-out singles by Steve Moss, Ronald Acuna and Adam Heether, but Lou Palmi-sano lined to right to end the inning.
The lone Huntsville run came after a one-out Drew Anderson triple in the fifth, with Acuna driving him in on a groundout.
The Stars are not being particularly selective at the plate. As Money explained, "What happens, when things don't go your way, you start expanding your (strike) zone. You have to make them throw strikes.''
Easier said than done, especially since the consensus is the umpires who are replacing the striking regulars have already expanded the strike zone, especially on the high side.
"All of a sudden, something will click and we'll start hitting,'' Anderson said. "We're swinging the bats good. It's the first time (in Double-A for several Stars), we're adjusting, everyone still has a little bit of nerves. Once we get settled in, we'll be fine. We're capable. It's just a matter of finding the comfort level.''
Tagged with the loss was Jeff Housman, who allowed four hits in five innings and struck out seven.
He was the victim of a borderline call at first base that put Ray Serrano aboard to lead off the second, then gave up a two-out single to Martin Prado and a two-run double to Yunel Escobar.
"It was all right,'' Housman said. "I felt like I had pretty decent control for the first time out. Control was the thing I was worried about in the spring.''
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/SPORTS09/604100322/1254 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/SPORTS09/604100322/1254</a>
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/SPORTS09/604100327 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/SPORTS09/604100327</a>
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_10_hunaax_msbaax_1 target=_blank>Huntsville 12 Mississippi 5</a>
Huntsville Top 1st
Callix Crabbe singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Drew Anderson out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Macay McBride to first baseman Dax Norris. Callix Crabbe to 2nd.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 1st
Gregor Blanco doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss.
Martin Prado singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Gregor Blanco to 3rd.
Yunel Escobar singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Gregor Blanco scores. Martin Prado to 2nd.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit by pitch. Martin Prado to 3rd. Yunel Escobar to 2nd.
Dax Norris singles on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson. Martin Prado scores. Yunel Escobar scores. Jarrod Saltalamacchia to 2nd.
Michael RosamondJr. strikes out swinging.
Onil Joseph grounds into a force out, first baseman Jeffrey Eure to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Jarrod Saltalamacchia to 3rd. Dax Norris out at 2nd. Onil Joseph to 1st.
Luis Hernandez grounds out, pitcher Khalid Ballouli to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 2nd
Pitcher Change: Dan Curtis replaces Macay McBride, batting 9th.
Ron Acuna walks.
Jeffrey Eure singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph. Ron Acuna to 2nd.
Lou Palmisano grounds into double play, second baseman Luis Hernandez to shortstop Yunel Escobar to first baseman Dax Norris. Ron Acuna to 3rd. Jeffrey Eure out at 2nd.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, first baseman Dax Norris to pitcher Dan Curtis.
Mississippi Bottom 2nd
Dan Curtis called out on strikes.
Gregor Blanco reaches on throwing error by pitcher Khalid Ballouli.
Martin Prado grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Gregor Blanco out at 2nd. Martin Prado to 1st.
Yunel Escobar grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Martin Prado out at 2nd.
Huntsville Top 3rd
Khalid Ballouli singles on a ground ball to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Callix Crabbe walks. Khalid Ballouli to 2nd.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss strikes out swinging.
Adam Heether singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael RosamondJr. Khalid Ballouli scores. Callix Crabbe to 3rd. Adam Heether to 2nd on the throw.
Ron Acuna walks.
Jeffrey Eure doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Onil Joseph. Callix Crabbe scores. Adam Heether scores. Ron Acuna scores.
Lou Palmisano grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 3rd
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Dax Norris grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Michael RosamondJr. doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Onil Joseph called out on strikes.
Huntsville Top 4th
Ozzie Chavez pops out to shortstop Yunel Escobar.
Khalid Ballouli singles on a fly ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Callix Crabbe flies out to right fielder Michael RosamondJr.
With Drew Anderson batting, Khalid Ballouli steals (1) 2nd base.
Drew Anderson grounds out, second baseman Luis Hernandez to first baseman Dax Norris.
Mississippi Bottom 4th
Luis Hernandez grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Dan Curtis walks.
Gregor Blanco doubles (3) on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson. Dan Curtis to 3rd.
Martin Prado reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Khalid Ballouli to third baseman Adam Heether. Dan Curtis out at 3rd.
Yunel Escobar lines out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Huntsville Top 5th
Steve Moss flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Adam Heether pops out to second baseman Luis Hernandez.
Ron Acuna doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Michael RosamondJr.
Jeffrey Eure pops out to second baseman Luis Hernandez.
Mississippi Bottom 5th
Pitcher Change: Matt Yeatman replaces Khalid Ballouli, batting 9th.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Dax Norris strikes out swinging.
Michael RosamondJr. doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Onil Joseph grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Top 6th
Pitcher Change: Bryan Digby replaces Dan Curtis, batting 9th.
Lou Palmisano singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael RosamondJr.
With Ozzie Chavez batting, wild pitch by Bryan Digby, Lou Palmisano to 2nd.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Matt Yeatman strikes out swinging.
Callix Crabbe walks.
Drew Anderson doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph. Lou Palmisano scores. Callix Crabbe scores.
With Steve Moss batting, wild pitch by Bryan Digby, Drew Anderson to 3rd.
Steve Moss strikes out swinging.
Mississippi Bottom 6th
Luis Hernandez grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Bryan Digby pops out to third baseman Adam Heether.
Gregor Blanco singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Martin Prado singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ron Acuna. Gregor Blanco to 3rd.
Yunel Escobar called out on strikes.
Huntsville Top 7th
Adam Heether strikes out swinging.
Ron Acuna singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Jeffrey Eure walks. Ron Acuna to 2nd.
Lou Palmisano singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph. Ron Acuna to 3rd. Jeffrey Eure to 2nd.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a fly ball to right fielder Michael RosamondJr. Ron Acuna scores. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd. Lou Palmisano to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Greg Sain replaces Matt Yeatman.
Greg Sain flies out to right fielder Michael RosamondJr.
Callix Crabbe walks. Jeffrey Eure scores. Lou Palmisano to 3rd. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.
Drew Anderson flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Mississippi Bottom 7th
Pitcher Change: Joe Winkelsas replaces Matt Yeatman, batting 9th.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia strikes out swinging.
Dax Norris singles on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Michael RosamondJr. strikes out swinging.
Onil Joseph grounds into a force out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Dax Norris out at 2nd.
Huntsville Top 8th
Steve Moss singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph.
Adam Heether singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Ron Acuna singles on a line drive to left fielder Onil Joseph. Steve Moss scores. Adam Heether to 3rd. Ron Acuna to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Onil Joseph.
Pitcher Change: Glenn Tucker replaces Bryan Digby, batting 7th.
Defensive Substitution: Carl Loadenthal replaces left fielder Onil Joseph, batting 9th.
Jeffrey Eure reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to third baseman Martin Prado to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to shortstop Yunel Escobar. Adam Heether out at home. Ron Acuna to 3rd.
Lou Palmisano reaches on force attempt, fielding error by third baseman Martin Prado. Ron Acuna scores. Jeffrey Eure to 2nd.
Ozzie Chavez grounds into a force out, shortstop Yunel Escobar to second baseman Luis Hernandez. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd. Lou Palmisano out at 2nd. Ozzie Chavez to 1st.
Joe Winkelsas walks. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.
Callix Crabbe singles on a line drive to left fielder Carl Loadenthal. Jeffrey Eure scores. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd. Joe Winkelsas to 2nd.
Drew Anderson flies out to left fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Mississippi Bottom 8th
Luis Hernandez flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Carl Loadenthal strikes out swinging.
Gregor Blanco singles on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss.
Martin Prado grounds into a force out, third baseman Adam Heether to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Gregor Blanco out at 2nd.
Huntsville Top 9th
Steve Moss doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Adam Heether walks.
Ron Acuna flies out to center fielder Gregor Blanco.
Jeffrey Eure walks. Steve Moss to 3rd. Adam Heether to 2nd.
Lou Palmisano grounds into a force out, third baseman Martin Prado to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Steve Moss out at home. Adam Heether scores. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd. Lou Palmisano advances to 1st, on missed catch error by first baseman Dax Norris.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to left fielder Carl Loadenthal.
Mississippi Bottom 9th
Yunel Escobar grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.
Dax Norris singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Michael RosamondJr. singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Dax Norris to 2nd.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt Esquivel replaces Glenn Tucker.
Matt Esquivel called out on strikes.
Luis Hernandez doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson. Dax Norris scores. Michael RosamondJr. to 3rd.
Pitcher Change: Gerrit Simpson replaces Joe Winkelsas, batting 9th.
Carl Loadenthal grounds out, pitcher Gerrit Simpson to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
<b>Stars trounce Braves</b>
Jeffrey Eure's three-run double in the fourth inning gave Huntsville a lead it wouldn't relinquish in a 12-5 rout of Mississippi on Monday. Ron Acuna also shined for the Stars (3-2), going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Callix Crabbe added two singles and two RBIs to the offensive outburst.
Starter Khalid Ballouli went four innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four. He also went 2-for-2 at the plate against the Braves (2-3).
Reliever Matt Yeatman (1-0) scattered three hits in two innings to hold the Braves and earn the win.
Macay McBride, who appeared in 23 games last year for Atlanta as a situational left-handed reliever, threw a scoreless first inning in a rehab start. Dan Curtis (0-1) relieved McBride and gave up four earned runs in four innings to take the loss.
Gregor Blanco went 4-for-5 with two doubles for the Braves, and Michael Rosamond Jr. went 3-for-5, also with two doubles. Dax Norris added three singles and two RBI, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a solo home run.
Mississippi plays Mobile on Tuesday in the first of a five-game set at 8 p.m. ET. Huntsville hosts Birmingham tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the start of their five-game series.
Jeffrey Eure who hit a 3 Run Double and a Single and a run is Huntsville player of the game.
<a href=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3292617 target=_blank>http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3292617</a>
<b><font size=4>Stars collect 17 hits, get ready for first home game</font></b>
PEARL, Miss. - Jeff Eure drove in three runs and scored twice to help the Huntsville Stars beat the Mississippi Braves 12-5 Monday night and take the opening series of the season.
Huntsville plays its home opener tonight at 7:05 against the Birmingham Barons.
Eure, Huntsville's first baseman, had two of the Stars' season-high 17 hits. Huntsville trailed 3-1 and had the bases loaded in the third when Eure hit a bases-clearing double.
Matthew Yeatman, the second of four Huntsville pitchers, got his first win after pitching two scoreless innings, striking out two. Huntsville won three games in the five-game series.
Huntsville starter Khalid Ballouli gave up three runs in the first but then settled down to pitch three scoreless innings.
Right-hander Carlos Villanueva will start for Huntsville tonight against Birmingham left-hander Ray Liotta.
<a href=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/SPORTS09/604110359/1254 target=_blank>http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/SPORTS09/604110359/1254</a>
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_11_biraax_hunaax_1 target=_blank>Birmingham 8 Huntsville 0</a>
Birmingham Top 1st
Christopher Getz grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Robert Valido called out on strikes.
Mark Quinn flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Huntsville Bottom 1st
Callix Crabbe flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Kennard Bibbs grounds out, pitcher Ray Liotta to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Birmingham Top 2nd
Thomas Collaro flies out to left fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Ricardo Nanita flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Micah Schnurstein singles on a line drive to left fielder Kennard Bibbs.
With Joshua Hansen batting, wild pitch by Carlos Villanueva, Micah Schnurstein to 2nd.
Joshua Hansen strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 2nd
Greg Sain lines out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Ron Acuna grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Adam Heether grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 3rd
Christopher Amador homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
Gustavo Molina singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Christopher Getz doubles (1) on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Gustavo Molina to 3rd.
Robert Valido triples (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Kennard Bibbs. Gustavo Molina scores. Christopher Getz scores.
Mark Quinn grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Robert Valido scores.
Thomas Collaro flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Ricardo Nanita walks.
Micah Schnurstein grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 3rd
Jeffrey Eure strikes out swinging.
Lou Palmisano lines out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 4th
Joshua Hansen walks.
Christopher Amador singles on a ground ball to left fielder Kennard Bibbs. Joshua Hansen to 2nd.
Gustavo Molina singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Joshua Hansen to 3rd. Christopher Amador to 2nd.
Christopher Getz grounds into double play, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Joshua Hansen scores. Christopher Amador to 3rd. Gustavo Molina out at 2nd.
Robert Valido homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Christopher Amador scores.
Mark Quinn singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Thomas Collaro flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Huntsville Bottom 4th
Callix Crabbe grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Kennard Bibbs strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss singles on a ground ball to shortstop Robert Valido.
Greg Sain strikes out swinging.
Birmingham Top 5th
Pitcher Change: Mike Meyers replaces Carlos Villanueva.
Ricardo Nanita strikes out swinging.
Micah Schnurstein flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Joshua Hansen strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 5th
Ron Acuna walks.
Adam Heether called out on strikes.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Lou Palmisano singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Collaro. Ron Acuna to 3rd.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Birmingham Top 6th
Christopher Amador grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Gustavo Molina grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Christopher Getz singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Robert Valido grounds into a force out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Christopher Getz out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 6th
Callix Crabbe flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Kennard Bibbs grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Birmingham Top 7th
Mark Quinn walks.
With Thomas Collaro batting, wild pitch by Mike Meyers, Mark Quinn to 2nd.
Thomas Collaro singles on a ground ball to left fielder Kennard Bibbs. Mark Quinn to 3rd.
Ricardo Nanita out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Steve Moss. Mark Quinn scores.
Micah Schnurstein grounds into double play, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Thomas Collaro out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 7th
Pitcher Change: William Lamura replaces Ray Liotta.
Greg Sain strikes out swinging.
Ron Acuna singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Adam Heether singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Collaro. Ron Acuna to 2nd.
Jeffrey Eure pops out to second baseman Christopher Getz.
Lou Palmisano strikes out swinging.
Birmingham Top 8th
Joshua Hansen walks.
Christopher Amador flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Gustavo Molina grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Joshua Hansen out at 2nd. Gustavo Molina to 1st.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Michael Myers replaces Christopher Getz.
Michael Myers grounds out, pitcher Mike Meyers to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 8th
Defensive Substitution: Michael Myers remains in the game as the second baseman.
Pitcher Change: Dwayne Pollok replaces William Lamura.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Callix Crabbe singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Kennard Bibbs called out on strikes.
Steve Moss singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ricardo Nanita. Callix Crabbe to 2nd.
Greg Sain flies out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Birmingham Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Andy Pratt replaces Mike Meyers.
Robert Valido flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Mark Quinn grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Thomas Collaro strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 9th
Ron Acuna grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Adam Heether strikes out swinging.
Jeffrey Eure grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
<b>Valido leads Barons past Cats</b>
Robert Valido homered and drove in four runs as Huntsville celebrated its home opener with an 8-0 victory over Birmingham.
Valido, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, had a two-run triple in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fourth, staking the Barons (2-4) to an early 7-0 lead.
Ray Liotta (1-0) was the beneficiary of Valido's big night. He yielded two hits over six innings, striking out four and walking one.
Through his first two starts, the left-hander has yielded one run on eight hits over 11 innings for an 0.62 ERA.
Stars starter Carlos Villanueva (1-1) was pounded for seven runs on nine hits over four innings.
Steve Moss had two singles for Huntsville (3-3), which failed to build on Monday's 12-5 rout of Mississippi.
The teams will resume their five-game set at 8:05 ET on Wednesday.
Steve Moss who had 3 Singles is Huntsville Player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=780 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=780</a>
<b><font size=4>Valido leads Barons past Stars, 8-0</font></b>
Robert Valido homered and drove in four runs as visiting Birmingham spoiled the Huntsville home opener with an 8-0 victory.
Valido, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, had a two-run triple in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fourth, staking the Barons (2-4) to an early 7-0 lead.
Ray Liotta (1-0) was the beneficiary of Valido's big night. He yielded two hits over six innings, striking out four and walking one.
Through his first two starts, the left-hander has yielded one run on eight hits over 11 innings for an 0.62 ERA.
Stars starter Carlos Villanueva (1-1) was pounded for seven runs on nine hits over four innings. Steve Moss had two singles for Huntsville (3-3).
The teams will resume their five-game set at 7:05 CT on Wednesday.
<b><font size=4>Stars do get some things right at start</font></b>
Welcome to Opening Night by K-Tel. It was baseball, with a soundtrack.
To introduce the Huntsville Stars was an apropos announcement:
"The Boys Are Back In Town.''
And, indeed, they were.
Their bats are expected to arrive in town soon.
The Stars got skunked by Birmingham, 8-0. So much for making magical memories on Opening Night.
The Stars managed only six hits, only two through the first six innings. The Barons hit for the cycle in the third - homer, single, double and triple - and pounded Carlos Villanueva, so impressive in his first start last week.
Good news, bad news.
Only 1,829 were on hand to watch. That's the good and the bad.
Good, that there were so few witnesses.
Bad, that last year's opener drew 5,350, albeit on a Friday night.
There was, at one musical interlude, a snippet about
"... the Big Boss Man ..."
The Stars' Big Boss Man, Miles Prentice, was plenty visible on Tuesday night, schmoozing with the politicos and the fans. His signature is freshly dry on a new lease with the city of Huntsville that was only two years late in the making.
Fitting music for the absentee owner's presence would have been "Blue Moon," as in his visits to Huntsville have come "once in a..."
Naturally, there was the seventh-inning tradition.
Why, only a few days ago, Mississippi manager Jeff Blauser was asking about Joe W. Davis Stadium, where he made some appearances while in a Greenville uniform, coming up through the Braves' system.
"I remember they played 'Sweet Home Alabama' in the seventh-inning stretch,'' Blauser said.
Some things never change. Including the park, since Blauser last played here, in the 1980s.
In the eighth inning, Birmingham's Michael Myers came in as a pinch-hitter and faced Huntsville's reliever Michael Meyers.
Quick on the trigger was Jamie Gilliam, handling the music in the press box.
He cued up the "Halloween" theme, a tribute to the creepy movie guy. Cool.
Before the game, the first-pitch ceremony was a most poignant one.
For years, Shawn Bulman was a fixture at Joe W. Davis Stadium. He was a clubhouse attendant. He sold group tickets. He sold ads. He eventually became marketing director. Far cry from washing socks and jocks - but he did both with equal joy.
Mostly, what "Bull" did was spread cheer all over the place.
Last Dec. 19, he died in a car crash. He was 34.
His young sons, Jack and Sam, accompanied their mom, Sharon, to the mound before the game.
They went into their windups, and threw out the ceremonial first pitches. A classy move on the part of the Stars.
The P.A. soundtrack was in the middle of a Rolling Stones standard.
At the very moment of the pitches came the words
"... make a grown man cry..."
And, you know, it did.
<b><font size=4>Barons bats wake up on road</font></b>
HUNTSVILLE - Getting away from the spacious Hoover Met was just what the Birmingham Barons hitters needed.
After losing four of five games to West Tenn to open the Southern League season - the lone win a 1-0 decision - Barons hitters busted out against Huntsville starter Carlos Villanueva in an 8-0 victory before 1,813 fans at Joe W. Davis Stadium Tuesday night. In five games against West Tenn, the Barons were outscored 14-7.
Shortstop Robert Valido led the charge with a two-run triple and two-run home run. Center fielder Chris Amador also homered among his two hits as the Barons used a four-run third inning to stake starter Ray Liotta (1-0) to a nice lead.
Second baseman Chris Getz and catcher Gustavo Molina also had two hits each as the Barons broke out with an 11-hit attack.
Liotta, who didn't get a decision in the season opener, went six innings and allowed only two hits. He struck out four and walked one. B.J. Lamura, who returned Tuesday after attending a family funeral in New York, and Dwayne Pollok completed the shutout.
Center fielder Steve Moss had two hits to pace the Stars' six-hit attack.
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_12_biraax_hunaax_1 target=_blank>Birmingham 8 Huntsville 4</a>
Birmingham Top 1st
Christopher Getz singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Robert Valido singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Christopher Getz to 2nd.
Mark Quinn singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs. Christopher Getz to 3rd. Robert Valido to 2nd.
Thomas Collaro singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs. Christopher Getz scores. Robert Valido scores. Mark Quinn out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Kennard Bibbs to third baseman Adam Heether. Thomas Collaro to 2nd on the throw.
Ricardo Nanita pops out to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Micah Schnurstein flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Huntsville Bottom 1st
Kennard Bibbs strikes out swinging.
Callix Crabbe singles on a line drive to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Drew Anderson grounds into double play, shortstop Robert Valido to second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Callix Crabbe out at 2nd.
Birmingham Top 2nd
Joshua Hansen grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Christopher Amador grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Gustavo Molina homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
Christopher Getz walks.
Robert Valido singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs. Christopher Getz to 2nd.
Mark Quinn grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Robert Valido out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 2nd
Greg Sain pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss walks.
Adam Heether pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen in foul territory.
With Jeffrey Eure batting, Steve Moss steals (1) 2nd base.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Birmingham Top 3rd
Thomas Collaro flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Ricardo Nanita singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Micah Schnurstein singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether. Ricardo Nanita to 2nd.
Joshua Hansen singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson. Ricardo Nanita scores. Micah Schnurstein to 2nd.
Christopher Amador strikes out swinging.
Gustavo Molina grounds into a force out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Joshua Hansen out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 3rd
Jean Boscan pops out to shortstop Robert Valido.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Kennard Bibbs doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Ricardo Nanita. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd.
Callix Crabbe walks.
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Greg Sain hits a grand slam (1) to left field. Ozzie Chavez scores. Kennard Bibbs scores. Callix Crabbe scores.
Steve Moss flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Birmingham Top 4th
Christopher Getz grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Robert Valido hit by pitch.
Mark Quinn homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Robert Valido scores.
Thomas Collaro pops out to shortstop Ozzie Chavez.
Ricardo Nanita walks.
Micah Schnurstein singles on a ground ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Ricardo Nanita to 2nd.
Pitcher Change: Matt Yeatman replaces Tim Dillard.
Joshua Hansen strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 4th
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Jeffrey Eure grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Jean Boscan grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 5th
Christopher Amador grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Gustavo Molina flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Christopher Getz grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 5th
Ozzie Chavez strikes out swinging.
Kennard Bibbs walks.
Callix Crabbe flies out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Drew Anderson singles on a fly ball to left fielder Ricardo Nanita. Kennard Bibbs to 2nd.
Greg Sain grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 6th
Robert Valido lines out to right fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Mark Quinn singles on a ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Thomas Collaro grounds into double play, third baseman Adam Heether to second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Mark Quinn out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 6th
Pitcher Change: Jeff Little replaces Lance Broadway.
Steve Moss flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Adam Heether singles on a fly ball to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Jeffrey Eure grounds into double play, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Adam Heether out at 2nd.
Birmingham Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Gerrit Simpson replaces Matt Yeatman.
Ricardo Nanita walks.
Micah Schnurstein ground bunts into a force out, pitcher Gerrit Simpson to shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Ricardo Nanita out at 2nd. Micah Schnurstein to 1st.
Joshua Hansen called out on strikes.
Christopher Amador triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Micah Schnurstein scores.
Gustavo Molina singles on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Christopher Amador scores.
With Christopher Getz batting, Gustavo Molina steals (1) 2nd base.
Christopher Getz grounds out, second baseman Callix Crabbe to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 7th
Jean Boscan singles on a line drive to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a line drive to right fielder Thomas Collaro. Jean Boscan to 2nd.
With Kennard Bibbs batting, wild pitch by Jeff Little, Jean Boscan to 3rd. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.
Kennard Bibbs walks.
Pitcher Change: Fraser Dizard replaces Jeff Little.
Callix Crabbe pops out to second baseman Christopher Getz on the infield fly rule.
Drew Anderson grounds into double play, second baseman Christopher Getz to shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Kennard Bibbs out at 2nd.
Birmingham Top 8th
Robert Valido flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Mark Quinn flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Thomas Collaro flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Huntsville Bottom 8th
Greg Sain flies out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Steve Moss strikes out swinging.
Adam Heether singles on a ground ball to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Birmingham Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Alec Zumwalt replaces Gerrit Simpson.
Ricardo Nanita doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Micah Schnurstein strikes out swinging.
Joshua Hansen singles on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson. Ricardo Nanita to 3rd.
Christopher Amador called out on strikes.
Gustavo Molina strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 9th
Jean Boscan flies out to right fielder Thomas Collaro.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Kennard Bibbs grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
<b>Birmingham belts Huntsville</b>
Mark Quinn went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer to boost the Barons to an 8-4 victory over the Stars on Wednesday.
Quinn, who led a 16-hit Birmingham attack, broke a 4-4 tie with a home run in the fourth inning off Huntsville starter Tim Dillard (1-1). The blast was his first of the season and came with one out after Robert Valido was hit by a pitch.
The Barons (3-4), who scored in each of the first four innings, chased Dillard with two outs in the fourth. Birmingham began the game with four consecutive singles, including Thomas Collaro's two-RBI hit.
Gustavo Molina added to the lead with a solo homer in the second. Joshua Hansen made it 4-0 in the third with an RBI single, before Greg Sain tied the score in the bottom of the inning with a grand slam for the Stars (3-4).
Birmingham starter Lance Broadway (1-0) yielded four runs and five hits over five innings, striking out three and walking three. Fraser Dizard allowed just one hit over the final three frames to earn his first save.
The five-game series continues at 8:05 p.m. ET on Thursday at Huntsville's Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
Greg Sain who hit a grand slam is the Huntsville Player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=781 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=781</a>
<b><font size=4>Birmingham belts Huntsville, 8-4</font></b>
Mark Quinn went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer to boost the Barons to an 8-4 victory over the Stars on Wednesday.
Quinn, who led a 16-hit Birmingham attack, broke a 4-4 tie with a home run in the fourth inning off Huntsville starter Tim Dillard (1-1). The blast was his first of the season and came with one out after Robert Valido was hit by a pitch.
The Barons (3-4), who scored in each of the first four innings, chased Dillard with two outs in the fourth. Birmingham began the game with four consecutive singles, including Thomas Collaro's two-RBI hit.
Gustavo Molina added to the lead with a solo homer in the second. Joshua Hansen made it 4-0 in the third with an RBI single, before Greg Sain tied the score in the bottom of the inning with a grand slam for the Stars (3-4).
Birmingham starter Lance Broadway (1-0) yielded four runs and five hits over five innings, striking out three and walking three. Fraser Dizard allowed just one hit over the final three frames to earn his first save.
The five-game series continues at 7:05 p.m. CT on Thursday at Huntsville's Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
<b><font size=4>Barons dim Stars' light</font></b>
Grand slam gives Stars lead, but Barons rally
Greg Sain pulled a beautiful rescue job. It was like Dudley Do-Right rescuing a damsel in distress from the railroad tracks.
Trouble was, they didn't see the train coming the other direction at the same time.
Sain, the Stars' designated hitter and 2004 Southern League home run champ, belted a third-inning grand slam to erase a four-run deficit, only to see Huntsville hand the game back over to Birmingham in an 8-4 loss.
The Stars have dropped two in a row to Birmingham to fall to 3-4 on the season. They'll host the Barons again tonight and Friday in 7:05 games, then close the series at 2:05 Saturday. Corey Thurman pitches tonight for Huntsville against Tyler Lumsden.
From the Stars' perspective, it's been an inopportune time for the Barons to heat up. After the Barons scored only seven runs in their 1-4 opening series against West Tenn, they have racked up 16 runs and 27 hits in two nights here.
Even one of the Barons players, in an aside to Stars manager Don Money said, "Man, we couldn't get a base hit (against West Tenn).''
"Now,'' Money said, "they're getting all the base hits. It's one of the things of baseball. It's a cycle.''
It's also the inherent danger - or benefit - of the new five-game series the Southern League has instituted.
"Five games is a long time to play against one team,'' Money said. "It works both ways. But they beat us twice now. They saying, 'We're going to score eight, 10 runs on them.' That's probably the way they feel and I don't blame them.''
The Barons opened with four consecutive hits off Tim Dillard, producing a pair of runs. Gustavo Molina homered in the second, then Birmingham made it 4-zip on three straight singles in the third. Dillard, who allowed only two hits in his season debut last week at Mississippi, gave up 11 hits and six runs in 32/3 innings.
Sain's slam, coming after an Ozzie Chavez single, Kennard Bibbs double and Callix Crabbe hit-by-pitch, tied the game at 4-all. It was only the third homer of the year for Huntsville in seven games.
It was the first Stars grand slam since Brandon Gemoll belted one May 10, 2004.
The tie lasted only a matter of minutes. Robert Valido was hit with a pitch to begin the fourth, then Mark Quinn belted a Birmingham homer off a Dillard changeup. A Christopher Amador triple keyed a two-run seventh.
"It seems like every time we made a mistake, the ball is up and they hit it,'' said Money. "And they hit it hard.''
Before there could be a deja vu grand slam moment, after the Stars loaded the bases again trailing by four, Birmingham reliever Fraser Dizard got Crabbe to pop up and Drew Anderson to hit into a double play to end the Huntsville seventh.
"That took the wind out of us,'' Money said. "We have to score when we get the opportunity.''
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_13_biraax_hunaax_1 target=_blank>Birmingham 2 Huntsville 0</a>
Birmingham Top 1st
Christopher Getz strikes out swinging.
Robert Valido pops out to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Mark Quinn grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 1st
Callix Crabbe grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Drew Anderson grounds out, pitcher Tyler Lumsden to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 2nd
Thomas Collaro flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Ricardo Nanita flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Micah Schnurstein grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 2nd
Greg Sain lines out to third baseman Micah Schnurstein.
Ron Acuna grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 3rd
Joshua Hansen pops out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Michael Myers pops out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure in foul territory.
Wally Rosa strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 3rd
Lou Palmisano grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Jeffrey Eure pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a ground ball to second baseman Christopher Getz.
Callix Crabbe singles on a fly ball to left fielder Ricardo Nanita. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.
Drew Anderson grounds out to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 4th
Christopher Getz singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Adam Heether.
Robert Valido flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Mark Quinn strikes out swinging and Christopher Getz caught stealing 2nd, catcher Lou Palmisano to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Huntsville Bottom 4th
Steve Moss singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Myers.
Greg Sain called out on strikes.
With Ron Acuna batting, Steve Moss picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Tyler Lumsden to first baseman Joshua Hansen to shortstop Robert Valido.
Ron Acuna pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen in foul territory.
Birmingham Top 5th
Thomas Collaro flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Ricardo Nanita pops out to third baseman Adam Heether in foul territory.
Micah Schnurstein grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 5th
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Lou Palmisano doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Michael Myers.
Jeffrey Eure strikes out swinging.
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, pitcher Tyler Lumsden to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 6th
Joshua Hansen hit by pitch.
Michael Myers out on a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Joshua Hansen to 2nd.
Wally Rosa grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Christopher Getz walks.
Robert Valido grounds into a force out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Christopher Getz out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 6th
Pitcher Change: Brian West replaces Tyler Lumsden.
Callix Crabbe grounds out, first baseman Joshua Hansen to pitcher Brian West.
Drew Anderson flies out to left fielder Ricardo Nanita.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Birmingham Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Steve Bray replaces Corey Thurman.
Mark Quinn called out on strikes.
Thomas Collaro flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Ricardo Nanita doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Micah Schnurstein homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Ricardo Nanita scores.
Joshua Hansen flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Huntsville Bottom 7th
Greg Sain flies out to center fielder Michael Myers.
Ron Acuna pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen in foul territory.
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 8th
Michael Myers lines out to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Wally Rosa flies out to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Christopher Getz singles on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss.
Robert Valido singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson. Christopher Getz to 2nd.
Mark Quinn reaches on force attempt, throwing error by shortstop Ozzie Chavez. Christopher Getz to 3rd. Robert Valido to 2nd.
Thomas Collaro grounds into a force out, third baseman Adam Heether to second baseman Callix Crabbe. Mark Quinn out at 2nd.
Huntsville Bottom 8th
Pitcher Change: Dwayne Pollok replaces Brian West.
Lou Palmisano grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Jeffrey Eure lines out to right fielder Mark Quinn.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Myers.
Callix Crabbe grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Joe Winkelsas replaces Steve Bray.
Ricardo Nanita called out on strikes.
Micah Schnurstein grounds out, pitcher Joe Winkelsas to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Joshua Hansen grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 9th
Pitcher Change: Ehren Wassermann replaces Dwayne Pollok.
Drew Anderson grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss walks.
Greg Sain grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Ron Acuna grounds out, pitcher Ehren Wassermann to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
<b>Barons blank Stars</b>
Micah Schnurstein's two-run homer in the seventh inning was the difference as visiting Birmingham beat Huntsville, 2-0, on Thursday.
Schnurstein, a seventh-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2002, broke a scoreless tie when he followed Ricardo Nanita's double with a blast to left field off Stars reliever Steve Bray. The Barons threatened again in the eighth, when they loaded the bases against Bray, but Thomas Collaro grounded out to third to end the threat.
Birmingham starter Tyler Lumsden allowed four hits over five innings, striking out two. Brian West (1-2) earned his first win with two perfect innings of relief, while Ehren Wassermann tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save.
The Barons (4-4) managed just one hit against Stars starter Corey Thurman, who faced two batters over the minimum through six innings and retired the first nine hitters he faced. The 26-year-old righty has given up just one hit and three walks in 10 innings this season.
Huntsville (3-5) managed five hits against Birmingham, including two singles by Ozzie Chavez. Bray (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits over two innings.
The teams continue their three-game series at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday at Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
Corey Thurman pitched 6 scoreless Innings holding Birmingham to 1 Hit with 3 Strike Outs is Huntsville player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=782 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=782</a>
<b><font size=4>Barons blank Stars, 2-0</font></b>
Micah Schnurstein's two-run homer in the seventh inning was the difference as visiting Birmingham beat Huntsville, 2-0, on Thursday.
Schnurstein, a seventh-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2002, broke a scoreless tie when he followed Ricardo Nanita's double with a blast to left field off Stars reliever Steve Bray. The Barons threatened again in the eighth, when they loaded the bases against Bray, but Thomas Collaro grounded out to third to end the threat.
Birmingham starter Tyler Lumsden allowed four hits over five innings, striking out two. Brian West (1-2) earned his first win with two perfect innings of relief, while Ehren Wassermann tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save.
The Barons (4-4) managed just one hit against Stars starter Corey Thurman, who faced two batters over the minimum through six innings and retired the first nine hitters he faced. The 26-year-old righty has given up just one hit and three walks in 10 innings this season.
Huntsville (3-5) managed five hits against Birmingham, including two singles by Ozzie Chavez. Bray (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits over two innings.
The teams continue their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. CT on Friday at Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
<b><font size=4>Thurman shines in Stars' loss</font></b>
Pitcher throws six shutout innings in Huntsville's 2-0 loss
It's nights like this when you're the Huntsville Stars and your offense is muted and you lose 2-0 to Birmingham that the top priority of player development is a nice consolation.
Because Stars starter Corey Thurman was simply spectacular.
In fact, spectacular may not cover it. Outstanding might be a good adjective to add. So would marvelous.
In his second start of the season, Thurman pitched six shutout innings and allowed only one hit - a bunt single by Barons leadoff hitter Christopher Getz to start the fourth.
But Thurman - limited to 70 pitches as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery that sidelined him for the 2005 season - left a scoreless tie and an inning before Birmingham got a two-run homer from third baseman Micah Schnurstein before 1,109 at Joe Davis Stadium.
"Thurman did an outstanding job," Stars manager Don Money said.
More applause for Thurman: He allowed one walk and hit one batter - which was mostly the good fortune of Josh Henson wearing a baggy jersey that got clipped by an inside pitch than the result of a poorly thrown ball.
And he got through six innings on his allowance of 70 pitches.
"Six innings in 70 pitches, that's outstanding," pitching coach Rich Sauveur said.
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_14_biraax_hunaax_1 target=_blank>Huntsville 4 Birmingham 3</a>
Birmingham Top 1st
Michael Myers doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Robert Valido singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Jeff Housman. Michael Myers to 3rd.
Mark Quinn strikes out swinging.
Thomas Collaro singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs. Michael Myers scores. Robert Valido to 3rd.
Micah Schnurstein flies into double play, center fielder Steve Moss to first baseman Jeffrey Eure to third baseman Adam Heether. Robert Valido out at home.
Huntsville Bottom 1st
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Guilder Rodriguez grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Steve Moss called out on strikes.
Birmingham Top 2nd
Joshua Hansen pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Ricardo Nanita doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Christopher Amador grounds out, second baseman Guilder Rodriguez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Ricardo Nanita to 3rd.
Gustavo Molina strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 2nd
Greg Sain strikes out swinging.
Jeffrey Eure flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Lou Palmisano pops out to third baseman Micah Schnurstein in foul territory.
Birmingham Top 3rd
Michael Myers pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Robert Valido flies out to right fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Mark Quinn flies out to right fielder Kennard Bibbs in foul territory.
Huntsville Bottom 3rd
Adam Heether grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Drew Anderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Mark Quinn.
Kennard Bibbs grounds into double play, second baseman Michael Myers to shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Drew Anderson out at 2nd.
Birmingham Top 4th
Thomas Collaro hit by pitch.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Christopher Getz replaces Thomas Collaro.
Micah Schnurstein flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Joshua Hansen grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Christopher Getz to 2nd.
Ricardo Nanita singles on a line drive to left fielder Drew Anderson. Christopher Getz scores. Ricardo Nanita out at 2nd, left fielder Drew Anderson to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Huntsville Bottom 4th
Defensive switch from 2nd to right field for Michael Myers.
Defensive Substitution: Christopher Getz remains in the game as the second baseman.
Ozzie Chavez pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Guilder Rodriguez strikes out swinging.
Steve Moss grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 5th
Christopher Amador grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Gustavo Molina pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Michael Myers homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
Robert Valido strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 5th
Greg Sain strikes out swinging.
Jeffrey Eure called out on strikes.
Lou Palmisano homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
Adam Heether grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 6th
Mark Quinn pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Christopher Getz strikes out swinging.
Micah Schnurstein singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson.
Joshua Hansen grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 6th
Drew Anderson strikes out swinging.
Kennard Bibbs singles on a ground ball to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Ozzie Chavez grounds into double play, shortstop Robert Valido to second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Kennard Bibbs out at 2nd.
Birmingham Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Mike Meyers replaces Jeff Housman.
Ricardo Nanita flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Christopher Amador strikes out swinging.
Gustavo Molina grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 7th
Pitcher Change: Rusty Tucker replaces Corwin Malone.
Guilder Rodriguez doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Myers.
With Steve Moss batting, wild pitch by Rusty Tucker, Guilder Rodriguez to 3rd.
Steve Moss walks.
Greg Sain singles on a fly ball to center fielder Christopher Amador. Guilder Rodriguez scores. Steve Moss to 2nd.
Jeffrey Eure out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Steve Moss to 3rd. Greg Sain to 2nd.
Lou Palmisano grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Steve Moss scores.
With Adam Heether batting, Greg Sain steals (1) 3rd base.
Adam Heether singles on a fly ball to center fielder Christopher Amador. Greg Sain scores.
Drew Anderson grounds out to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 8th
Michael Myers pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Robert Valido called out on strikes.
Mark Quinn singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kennard Bibbs.
Christopher Getz singles on a fly ball to left fielder Drew Anderson. Mark Quinn to 2nd.
Pitcher Change: Alec Zumwalt replaces Mike Meyers.
Micah Schnurstein called out on strikes.
Huntsville Bottom 8th
Kennard Bibbs grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Ozzie Chavez flies out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Guilder Rodriguez strikes out swinging.
Birmingham Top 9th
Joshua Hansen pops out to second baseman Guilder Rodriguez.
Ricardo Nanita flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Christopher Amador strikes out swinging.
<b>Stars edge Barons</b>
Huntsville manufactured a three-run rally in the seventh inning to beat visiting Birmingham, 4-3, on Friday.
Guilder Rodriguez led off the frame with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch by reliever Rusty Tucker. Greg Sain followed a walk to Steve Moss with an RBI single to center, scoring Rodriguez. Jeff Eure's sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position. After Moss scored on Lou Palmisano's groundout, Sain stole third and scored when Adam Heether dumped a single into center field, giving the Stars (4-5) their first lead.
Palmisano also hit a solo home run in the fifth to break the shutout bid by Barons starter Corwin Malone.
Stars reliever Mike Meyers (1-1) picked up the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out two and surrendering two hits. Alec Zumwalt retired the last four batters to earn his second save.
The Barons (4-5) grabbed the lead in the first, when Michael Myers led off with a double and came home on Thomas Collaro's single to right. Myers went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the fifth.
Tucker (0-1) was charged with the loss, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk over two innings.
The teams meet in the rubber game of the three-game series at 8:05 p.m. ET on Saturday at Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
Lou Palmisano hit a Solo Home Run in the 5th Inning and a RBI on a Ground Out in the 7th Inning is Huntsville Player of the game.
<a href=http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=784 target=_blank>http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=784</a>
<b><font size=4>Huntsville rallies to defeat Barons, 4-3</font></b>
Huntsville manufactured a three-run rally in the seventh inning to beat visiting Birmingham, 4-3, on Friday.
Guilder Rodriguez led off the frame with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch by reliever Rusty Tucker. Greg Sain followed a walk to Steve Moss with an RBI single to center, scoring Rodriguez. Jeff Eure's sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position. After Moss scored on Lou Palmisano's groundout, Sain stole third and scored when Adam Heether dumped a single into center field, giving the Stars (4-5) their first lead.
Palmisano also hit a solo home run in the fifth to break the shutout bid by Barons starter Corwin Malone.
Stars reliever Mike Meyers (1-1) picked up the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out two and surrendering two hits. Alec Zumwalt retired the last four batters to earn his second save.
The Barons (4-5) grabbed the lead in the first, when Michael Myers led off with a double and came home on Thomas Collaro's single to right. Myers went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the fifth.
Tucker (0-1) was charged with the loss, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk over two innings.
The teams will conclude the five-game series at 2:05 p.m. CT on Saturday at Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.
<a href=http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_15_biraax_hunaax_1 target=_blank>Huntsville 6 Birmingham 2</a>
Birmingham Top 1st
Christopher Getz flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Robert Valido called out on strikes.
Ricardo Nanita walks.
With Mark Quinn batting, Ricardo Nanita caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Jean Boscan to second baseman Callix Crabbe.
Huntsville Bottom 1st
Ozzie Chavez grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Callix Crabbe called out on strikes.
Steve Moss grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 2nd
Mark Quinn lines out to third baseman Adam Heether.
Micah Schnurstein flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Michael Myers singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ron Acuna.
With Joshua Hansen batting, Michael Myers steals (1) 2nd base.
Joshua Hansen strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 2nd
Greg Sain strikes out swinging.
Ron Acuna lines out to center fielder Christopher Amador.
Adam Heether grounds out, first baseman Joshua Hansen to pitcher Ryan Rodriguez.
Birmingham Top 3rd
Christopher Amador strikes out swinging.
Gustavo Molina doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss.
Christopher Getz walks.
With Robert Valido batting, wild pitch by Khalid Ballouli, Gustavo Molina to 3rd. Christopher Getz to 2nd.
Robert Valido reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Adam Heether to catcher Jean Boscan. Gustavo Molina out at home.
Ricardo Nanita walks. Christopher Getz to 3rd. Robert Valido to 2nd.
With Mark Quinn batting, wild pitch by Khalid Ballouli, Christopher Getz scores. Robert Valido to 3rd. Ricardo Nanita to 2nd.
Mark Quinn strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 3rd
Drew Anderson grounds out, pitcher Ryan Rodriguez to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Jeffrey Eure reaches on fielding error by second baseman Christopher Getz.
Jean Boscan doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Christopher Amador. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd.
Ozzie Chavez singles on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Myers. Jeffrey Eure scores. Jean Boscan to 3rd.
Callix Crabbe out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Michael Myers. Jean Boscan scores.
Steve Moss grounds out, second baseman Christopher Getz to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Birmingham Top 4th
Micah Schnurstein flies out to center fielder Steve Moss.
Michael Myers pops out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure in foul territory.
Joshua Hansen grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Huntsville Bottom 4th
Greg Sain grounds out, shortstop Robert Valido to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Ron Acuna grounds out, third baseman Micah Schnurstein to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Adam Heether called out on strikes.
Birmingham Top 5th
Christopher Amador singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ron Acuna.
Gustavo Molina out on a sacrifice bunt to pitcher Khalid Ballouli. Christopher Amador to 2nd.
Christopher Getz grounds out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure. Christopher Amador to 3rd.
Robert Valido doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Steve Moss. Christopher Amador scores.
Ricardo Nanita walks.
Mark Quinn strikes out swinging.
Huntsville Bottom 5th
Drew Anderson walks.
Jeffrey Eure doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Christopher Amador. Drew Anderson to 3rd.
Jean Boscan out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Ricardo Nanita. Drew Anderson scores.
Ozzie Chavez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Ryan Rodriguez to first baseman Joshua Hansen. Jeffrey Eure to 3rd.
Callix Crabbe walks.
Steve Moss pops out to first baseman Joshua Hansen in foul territory.
Birmingham Top 6th
Pitcher Change: Gerrit Simpson replaces Khalid Ballouli.
Micah Schnurstein strikes out swinging.
Michael Myers pops out to first baseman Jeffrey Eure in foul territory.
Joshua Hansen called out on strikes.
Huntsville Bottom 6th
Greg Sain homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.
Ron Acuna grounds out, pitcher Ryan Rodriguez to first baseman Joshua Hansen.
Adam Heether grounds out, first baseman Joshua Hansen to pitcher Ryan Rodriguez.
Drew Anderson lines out to second baseman Christopher Getz.
Birmingham Top 7th
Christopher Amador strikes out swinging.
Gustavo Molina grounds out, shortstop Ozzie Chavez to first baseman Jeffrey Eure.
Christopher Getz flies out to left fielder Drew Anderson.