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Gemoll Gives Stars a Series Split
Brandon Gemoll knocked in two key runs and Dana Eveland worked a solid
six innings to push Huntsville past West Tenn 5-3 Sunday night in the final game
of a four-game set at Pringles Park. The Stars earned a series split and
improved to 7-5 in the second half and maintained their hold on first place in
the North Division, while the Diamond Jaxx fell to 6-6 and one game off the
lead.
Brandon Sing singled to lead off the second, moved to third base on two ground
ball outs and scored the first run of the game on a passed ball by Jeff
Winchester. The Stars came right back in the third inning to grab the lead for
good with a pair of runs. Ben Van Iderstine led off with a double and scored
when Kennard Bibbs followed with a two-base hit to tie the game at one. Bibbs,
who picked up his first extra-base hit since May 27 and his first run batted in
since June 19, would steal third base and score on a Callix Crabbe to put
Huntsville on top. Enrique Cruz doubled with two outs in the fourth and scored
on a base hit by Gemoll, who has knocked in a run in five of his last six games,
to give the Stars a 3-1 edge.
Sing would open the fourth with a walk, move to third on two ground ball outs
and score on an infield hit by Jose Reyes that trimmed the visitors lead to 3-2.
Eveland would allow two runs on five hits to earn his league-best ninth win of
the season and sixth in his last seven starts, all of which have followed Stars
losses. The southpaw has allowed 30 hits over his last two starts and only two
of them have been for extra bases.
Sean Marshall was taken out after six innings and suffered his first loss in
three starts with the Diamond Jaxx. The southpaw was charged with three runs on
four hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Ben Van Iderstine greeted
Federico Baez with a single on the first pitch the right-hander threw, moved to
second on a Bibbs sacrifice bunt and scored on a pinch-hit double by Guilder
Rodriguez, who collected his first extra-base hit of the season. West Tenn
pulled back to within a run in the home seventh against Khalid Ballouli when
Dwaine Bacon scored from first base on a single to center field by Matt Murton,
who knocked in his 42nd run of the year. Bacon broke on a 3-2 pitch and never
slowed rounding third base and slid safely in ahead of Crabbe’s relay throw from
second base.
The Stars tallied the final run of the night in the eighth when Brad Nelson
singled with one out, moved to second base on a ground out and scored on a
Gemoll single. Nelson reached base with 10 hits and four walks over 18 plate
appearances in the series.
Mitch Stetter recorded the final two outs in the eighth inning and worked a
scoreless ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season, with three of his
last five coming in games won by Eveland.
The Stars return home to open a four-game set Monday night against Birmingham in
the first meeting between the two teams this season. Huntsville will send
right-hander Dennis Sarfate to the mound against Barons right-hander Charlie
Haeger. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN
1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
Date Posted: 7/3/2005
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