Link Report for Thursday 5/22 - Heether Outpitches Turnbow; Brantley Leaves Game

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Struggling Stars fall again

Huntsville's lead in North Division has evaporated

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

The Huntsville Stars now have company atop the Southern League's North Division.

 

Just two weeks ago, it appeared they would run away with the first-half title. But after dropping an 8-6 game to Birmingham on Thursday while West Tenn beat Chattanooga again, the Stars and Diamond Jaxx are even. And while the Jaxx are surging, the Stars have dropped six of seven at home.

 

"When you have a team that's used to winning every time out, and you lose three or four games, everybody's freaking out," catcher Angel Salome said. "We're not freaking out yet."

 

Perhaps the most alarming thing for Huntsville during this stretch is its bullpen woes. During the slump, the Stars' relievers have sustained four of the six losses and sport an earned run average of 4.82.

 

"We're not holding the other team anywhere," Stars manager Don Money said. "The bullpen comes in, throws a lot of pitches, gives up runs, walks a lot of guys. Look at the last five losses. Most of it is the bullpen."

 

That wasn't the only culprit Thursday, though. As many plays as Salome has made lately, it was one he didn't make that loomed large.

 

After relief pitcher Robert Hinton (2-2) gave up the lead in the seventh, Salome allowed a low-but-catchable pitch to trickle past him with the bases loaded.

Victor Mercedes raced home for what proved to be the game-winning run in front of 2,309 fans at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

"I was blocking everything the whole game," Salome said. "Then what? The easiest ball goes through."

 

The offense didn't help matters much, either. The Stars produced six runs, but they blew prime opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings when they had a runner in scoring position and no outs. Then, they had two on and one out in the ninth but couldn't score.

 

At this rate, the Stars must feel like they're inventing ways to lose.

 

Huntsville (30-17) orchestrated a comeback from two runs down by scoring a single run in the fourth and busting out for five in the fifth to take what appeared to be a commanding 6-2 lead.

 

Following Salome's opposite-field homer to start the inning, the Stars added five hits and four more runs. Unfortunately, the outburst wasn't nearly enough.

 

Huntsville starter Derek Miller nearly gave up the lead in the sixth, allowing four hits - two that burned Stars outfielders - and three runs to cut the lead to one. Then, the bullpen blew what shaky lead Miller left it.

 

The Southern League South Division-leading Barons started the seventh with a walk and a bunt single. Then, Robert Hinton gave up an RBI single to Javier Castillo, and Salome's mistake let the other run score.

 

Not only did the Stars lose again, they added injury to insult. Leadoff hitter and offensive catalyst Michael Brantley hurt himself sliding into second on a steal in the sixth.

 

He stayed in the game to run the bases but did not come back onto the field in the top of the seventh.

 

"Sprained ankle as far as I know," Money said. "We haven't got word yet."

 

Immediately after the trainer left the field, Alcides Escobar ripped a line drive that appeared destined for left-center field. Instead, it hit Brantley to end the inning and ruined yet another scoring chance.