Link Report for Sat. 4/20 -- Fiers back on AAA mound; Nelson, Stars check out Birmingham's new park

[pogokat]

Mass,

Your link to the T-rats second game box score goes to the 1st game's box score. If you aren't around to change it, here is the right link for anyone else:

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_04_20_wisafx_cliafx_2&t=g_box&sid=t572

 

 

i fixed it

[Minigoon]

10:53pm. Huntsville and Birmingham still going. Tied 5-5 in the 13th. Utility player T.J. Mittlestaedt is warming up in the bullpen.

[Minigoon]

Stars scored 5 in the top of the 13 and Mittlestaedt did in fact come in to pitch the bottom of the 13th.

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 3 Clearwater 6

 

'Tees topped again by Threshers

Brevard loses consecutive games for first time since opening weekend

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. - For the first time since opening weekend, the Brevard County Manatees have dropped consecutive contests as they were defeated 6-3 by the Clearwater Threshers on Saturday night at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

 

Clearwater threatened right away in the first with runners on second and third and just one out, but Lance Roenicke showed off his arm after catching a ball in foul territory. Carlos Alonso tried tagging up from third, but a dart down the line from Roenicke just beat him with the double play ending the opening frame.

 

In the second inning, the Threshers would get on the board first as Aaron Altherr took a walk and stole second before scoring on a Brock Stassi single. Brevard County (9-7) didn't allow that lead to last long though as the first four batters in the top of the third all reached for the Manatees.

 

Roenicke's double after fouling off seven straight pitches brought home Yadiel Rivera, with the left fielder advancing to third on the throw home. Roenicke was then tagged out at home in a rundown in on a Dionis Hinojosa fielder's choice, the Manatees were still able to put runners on second and third with just one out but could not score again and the game remained tied at 1-1.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Drew Gagnon entered the sixth inning with six strikeouts including three in the fifth, but things began to unravel in the sixth. The Threshers (8-8) were able to bat around and score five runs in the inning to take a 6-1 lead. Gagnon allowed two singles, a double, a walk and a wild pitch, en route to two runs before he was removed from the game.

 

Stephen Peterson came on from the bullpen with one out and allowed the fielder's choice that scored a run. Next, Altherr knocked a single to center that allowed Perkins to score, but Altherr tried to advance on the throw home and when Rafael Neda tried to cut him down at second, his throw sailed deep into center field. Altherr was then able to score and was then followed by a Brock Stassi triple before Peterson caught Logan Moore looking to finally end the inning.

 

Overall, Gagnon (0-2, 9.72) was charged with five runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out six. Clearwater starting pitcher Hoby Milner allowed only one run on five hits, as he fanned five in six innings.

 

Brevard County battled back in the ninth with Greg Hopkins taking a leadoff walk and Brandon Macias advancing him to third with a two-out single. Hopkins crossed the plate on a passed ball that also put Macias in scoring position and Hopkins then scored on a Rafael Neda single.

 

The Manatees will look to get back on track as they open a three-game series with the Tampa Yankees (8-8) on Sunday beginning at 5:00 p.m. at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

 

Pregame coverage and the beginning of the game from the Manatees Radio Network will be available on ManateesBaseball.com, before AM 1300 WMEL joins the broadcast in progress.

 

Brevard County Box Score

The Manatees offense managed just one extra base hit in this one; a double off the bat of left fielder Lance Roenicke. Greg Hopkins was on base twice with a single and a walk. Chadwin Stang singled and stole his sixth base of the year. Rafael Neda, catching just his fourth game, had an RBI single but also a throwing error. Yadiel Rivera, Brandon Macias and Cameron Garfield had the other three base hits for Brevard.

 

Drew Gagnon pitched five pretty good innings, but then ran in to trouble in the sixth. His final line was 5.1 innings, 5 runs, all earned, on six hits. He walked two and struck out six. Stephen Peterson was charged with one run in 1.2 innings, and Matt Miller worked a scorless frame for the second time in as many outings.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

The five run sixth was too much for the BC offense to overcome

 

Clearwater Bottom of the 6th

Jose Mojica doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Chadwin Stang.

Jonathan Roof pops out to second baseman Gregory Hopkins.

Carlos Alonso walks.

Maikel Franco singles on a ground ball to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Jose Mojica to 3rd. Carlos Alonso to 2nd.

With Chris Serritella batting, wild pitch by Drew Gagnon, Jose Mojica scores.

Chris Serritella singles on a line drive to left fielder Lance Roenicke. Carlos Alonso scores. Maikel Franco to 3rd.

Pitching Change: Stephen Peterson replaces Drew Gagnon.

Cameron Perkins grounds into a force out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to second baseman Gregory Hopkins. Maikel Franco scores. Chris Serritella out at 2nd. Cameron Perkins to 1st.

With Aaron Altherr batting, Cameron Perkins steals (1) 2nd base.

Aaron Altherr singles on a ground ball to center fielder Chadwin Stang. Cameron Perkins scores. Aaron Altherr scores. Throwing error by catcher Rafael Neda.

Brock Stassi triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Chadwin Stang.

Logan Moore called out on strikes.

 

The Manatees tried to stage a rally with two outs in the ninth, but came up short

 

Brevard County Top of the 9th

Gregory Hopkins walks.

Nick Ramirez strikes out swinging.

Cameron Garfield lines out to second baseman Carlos Alonso.

Brandon Macias singles on a ground ball to center fielder Aaron Altherr. Gregory Hopkins to 3rd.

With Rafael Neda batting, Brandon Macias advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

With Rafael Neda batting, passed ball by Logan Moore, Gregory Hopkins scores. Brandon Macias to 3rd.

Rafael Neda singles on a ground ball to center fielder Aaron Altherr. Brandon Macias scores.

Pitching Change: Ryan O'Sullivan replaces Colby Shreve.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, shortstop Jose Mojica to first baseman Brock Stassi.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Snap Skid With 11-5 Win Over Omaha

Garner Grand Slam Highlights Season-Best Offensive Output For Nashville

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/cAztGdd.jpg

Cole Garner (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds snapped their four-game losing streak in a big way on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium, defeating the division-leading Omaha Storm Chasers, 11-5, in the opener of a four-game series.

 

Nashville (5-9) erupted for season highs of 11 runs and 14 hits in the victory. Cole Garner highlighted the offensive outburst with a seventh-inning grand slam, the outfielder's team-leading fourth home run of the year. Scooter Gennett added three hits and three runs scored for the Sounds.

 

Despite the offensive outburst, the run total could have been higher as Nashville left a season-high 11 runners on base, including stranding the bases loaded three times.

 

The two new additions to the Sounds roster also provided solid contributions in the victory. Starting pitcher Mike Fiers tossed four scoreless frames and rehabbing infielder Jeff Bianchi went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles.

 

After the Storm Chasers left the bases loaded in a scoreless top of the first against Fiers, the Sounds got off to a quick start against Omaha Brian Sanches, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the frame.

 

Gennett led off with Nashville's first triple of the season, a shot off the base of the right field wall. Bianchi followed with an opposite-field RBI single that stayed just inside the first base bag to stake the home team to a 1-0 advantage. After Hunter Morris drew a walk, and Sean Halton popped out, Stephen Parker drilled an RBI single back up the middle to double the lead.

 

Nashville increased the lead to 3-0 in the third when Sean Halton led off with a double and later scored on Caleb Gindl's sacrifice fly.

 

Fiers worked into and out of another bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, fanning Irving Falu to keep the 3-0 lead intact.

 

The Sounds offense kept churning in the home half of the fourth, opening the inning with four straight singles to plate a pair of runs and chase Sanches from the contest in the process.

 

Blake Davis led off with a knock before Gennett laid down a well-placed bunt single up the third base line and Bianchi followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that ended Sanches' evening. Morris greeted Omaha reliever Atahualpa Severino with an RBI single through the right side of the infield that plated Gennett, who made a nice evasive slide at the plate to avoid the tag of Storm Chasers catcher Adam Moore and upped the lead to 5-0.

 

Fiers allowed two hits over four scoreless innings in his first Triple-A start of the year, taking a no-decision. He walked four batters and struck out six in his 70-pitch effort.

 

Jesus Sanchez (2-0) picked up his second win of the year for the Sounds by working two scoreless frames behind Fiers.

 

Sanches (1-1) drew his first loss of the year after giving up five runs on eight hits in his three-plus innings of work.

 

The Sounds tacked on two more runs in the sixth against the Omaha bullpen to extend the lead to 7-0.

 

Morris drew a one-out walk from George Sherrill and scored on the Halton's team-leading fourth two-bagger of the year and second of the night. Later in the frame, the Sounds loaded the bags against Francisley Bueno and [Anderson] De La Rosa delivered a two-out RBI single to right to plate Nashville's seventh run of the night.

 

Garner put icing on the win in the seventh when he connected on his two-out grand slam against Bueno to up the lead to 11-0. The slam ended a stretch of 177 consecutive bases-loaded at-bats for the Sounds without a homer since Taylor Green went yard on July 10, 2011 at Albuquerque.

 

Omaha scored the game's final five runs, plating three unearned scores in the eighth against Kyle Heckathorn following a pair of Sounds errors and adding two in the ninth off Johnnie Lowe.

 

The teams continue the series with a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (0-1, 5.40) will man the bump for the Sounds and face Omaha southpaw Chris Dwyer (2-1, 3.00).

 

 

Nashville Box

The box & game log have Bianchi with 6 ABs, although the game story only had him with 4. Every Sounds starter had either a hit or a walk.

 

Gennett: 3-5, 3B, BB, SB, E (fielding)

Bianchi: 2-6, 2 RBI, E (fielding)

Morris: 1-3, RBI, 2 BB

Halton: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB

Parker: 1-4, RBI, BB

Garner: 2-3, HR, 4 RBI, BB

Gindl: 0-2, RBI, 2 BB

De La Rosa: 2-5, RBI, 1/1 CS

Davis: 1-5

 

[pre]Fiers: 4 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 4 BB 6 K 70 TP (41 strikes) 1:3 GO:FO

Sanchez: 2 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 K

Travis Webb: 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K

Heckathorn: 1 IP 1 H 3 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 K HBP

Lowe: 1 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 0 K[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

The Nashville 6th was an adventure, to put it mildly, including three walks & two wild pitches:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 6th

-Pitching Change: George Sherrill replaces Atahualpa Severino.

-Jeff Bianchi called out on strikes.

-Hunter Morris walks.

-With Sean Halton batting, wild pitch by George Sherrill, Hunter Morris to 2nd.

-Sean Halton doubles (4) on a ground ball to right fielder Anthony Seratelli. Hunter Morris scores.

-With Stephen Parker batting, wild pitch by George Sherrill, Sean Halton to 3rd.

-Stephen Parker strikes out swinging.

-Pitching Change: Francisley Bueno replaces George Sherrill.

-Cole Garner walks.

-Caleb Gindl walks. Cole Garner to 2nd.

-Anderson De La Rosa singles on a ground ball to right fielder Anthony Seratelli. Sean Halton scores. Cole Garner to 3rd. Caleb Gindl to 2nd.

-Blake Davis lines out to shortstop Christian Colon.

 

Keeping with the theme, the top half of the 7th was chaotic. A missed catch error erased what would've been a lineout 4-3 double play that would've ended the frame. Two walks later, it was granny-time:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 7th

-Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to left fielder Xavier Nady.

-Jeff Bianchi flies out to center fielder David Lough.

-Hunter Morris lines out to second baseman Johnny Giavotella. Scooter Gennett advances to 1st, on a missed catch error by first baseman Chad Tracy, assist to second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

-Sean Halton walks. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.

-Stephen Parker walks. Scooter Gennett to 3rd. Sean Halton to 2nd.

-Cole Garner hits a grand slam (4) to left field. Scooter Gennett scores. Sean Halton scores. Stephen Parker scores.

-Caleb Gindl flies out to left fielder Xavier Nady.

 

 

Heckathorn's 8th inning, his first appearance since April 7th, is one I'm sure he'll be glad to put in the rearview mirror. Not fun when you have to get five outs instead of three:

 

Omaha Top of the 8th

-Pitching Change: Kyle Heckathorn replaces Travis Webb.

-David Lough reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Scooter Gennett.

-Christian Colon hit by pitch. David Lough to 2nd.

-Johnny Giavotella singles on a line drive to right fielder Cole Garner. David Lough to 3rd. Christian Colon to 2nd.

-Xavier Nady grounds out, third baseman Stephen Parker to first baseman Hunter Morris. David Lough scores. Christian Colon to 3rd. Johnny Giavotella to 2nd.

-Max Ramirez grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Christian Colon scores. Johnny Giavotella to 3rd.

-Adam Moore reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Jeff Bianchi. Johnny Giavotella scores.

-Chad Tracy pops out to second baseman Scooter Gennett in foul territory.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 10 Birmingham 5

 

It took 13 innings, 8 pitchers, and 4 hours and 42 minutes, but the Stars snapped their 4 game losing streak to hand Birmingham their 1st home loss this season. Starter Jimmy Nelson continued his strong season with another exceptional performance tonight. Nelson went 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Nelson left with a 5-0 lead. R.J. Seidel finished the 6th and pitched a scorless 7th, striking out 3 of the 4 batters he faced.

 

Things got shaky in the 8th. 40 man roster pitcher Santo Manzanillo struggled mightly tonight. Manzanillo faced 4 batters in the 8th, allowing a hit while walking 3. He was charged with 3 earned runs. Lefty Brian Garman came on with the bases loaded. After a couple sacrifice flies, the lead was down to 5-3. Greg Holle was called on in the 9th to close the door. Holle walked the lead off hitter to start the 9th. After a stolen base, Barons 2nd baseman Marcus Semien hit a game tying home run. After recording an out on a fly ball, Holle walked another Baron and was then taken out. Left hander Thomas Keeling then came on. While making a pick off attempt, Keeling threw the ball away, and the Barons now had a runner on 3rd with 1 out. Manager Darnell Coles pulled the infield in. The strategy worked as a ground ball to short stop Hector Gomez forced the runner to stay at 3rd. After another walk, Keeling finally got out of the inning on a strike out.

 

The Stars bullpen then threw 4 shutout innings. Keeling worked the 10th. Eric Marzec came on to work the 11th and 12th, allowing a hit while striking out 2. After the Stars scored 5 runs in the top of the 13th, utility man T.J. Mittlestaedt then came on to work the bottom half. Mittlestaedt allowed a hit, but that was it.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The Stars jumped out to a 5-0 lead, scoring three in the 4th and two more in the 5th. Then, over the next 7 innings, the Stars could only muster 2 walks. The bats finally woke up again in the 13th as the Stars scored 5 to take the lead and earn the win. Designated Hitter Robinzon Diaz led the Stars offensively tonight with 3 hits, including 2 doubles, driving in a run and also scoring a run. Catcher Adam Weisenburger continued his strong hitting this season. Weisenbuger went 2-4, including a 2 run single in the 13th to give the Stars the lead. He also walked twice and scored twice. Right fielder Kentrail Davis also had 2 hits including a double. Shortstop Nick Shaw was on base twice and drove in 2 as well.

 

BASERUNNING

SB: Vucinich (1, 2nd base off Whisler/Gonzalez, M), Tosoni (1, 2nd base off Whisler/Gonzalez, M), Rogers, J (1, 2nd base off Buch/Gonzalez, M).

 

Coming into tonight's game, the Stars, as a team, had only 4 stolen bases. They nearly doubled that with tonight's effort.

 

FIELDING

E: Keeling (1, pickoff).

 

Much cleaner defensive game tonight for Huntsville. The lone error could have been costly as it put a runner on 3rd with one out in the 9th, but the Stars were able to work around it and get out of the inning.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Big 2 out work by Gomez and Shaw to drive in runs.

Huntsville Top of the 4th

 

Jason Rogers grounds out, third baseman Daniel Wagner to first baseman Andy Wilkins.

Brock Kjeldgaard singles on a line drive to center fielder Keenyn Walker.

Robinzon Diaz singles on a line drive to right fielder Trayce Thompson. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd.

Rene Tosoni grounds into a force out, shortstop Tyler Saladino to second baseman Marcus Semien. Brock Kjeldgaard to 3rd. Robinzon Diaz out at 2nd. Rene Tosoni to 1st.

Adam Weisenburger walks. Rene Tosoni to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Ryan Buch replaces Wes Whisler.

Hector Gomez walks. Brock Kjeldgaard scores. Rene Tosoni to 3rd. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd.

Nick Shaw singles on a line drive to right fielder Trayce Thompson. Rene Tosoni scores. Adam Weisenburger scores. Hector Gomez to 3rd.

Shea Vucinich grounds out, third baseman Daniel Wagner to first baseman Andy Wilkins.

 

Birmingham tying it up in the 9th

 

Birmingham Bottom of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Greg Holle replaces Brian Garman.

Keenyn Walker walks.

With Marcus Semien batting, Keenyn Walker steals (7) 2nd base.

Marcus Semien homers (2) on a fly ball to left center field. Keenyn Walker scores.

Trayce Thompson flies out to right fielder Kentrail Davis.

Andy Wilkins walks.

Pitching Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Greg Holle.

With Dan Black batting, throwing error by Thomas Keeling on the pickoff attempt, Andy Wilkins to 3rd.

Dan Black grounds out, shortstop Hector Gomez to first baseman Jason Rogers.

Jared Mitchell walks.

Tyler Saladino strikes out on a foul tip

 

Huntsville's 5 spot in the bottom of the 9th, with some help from Birmingham's defense.

 

Huntsville Top of the 13th

 

Robinzon Diaz doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Jared Mitchell.

Rene Tosoni singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jared Mitchell. Robinzon Diaz to 3rd.

With Adam Weisenburger batting, Rene Tosoni advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

Adam Weisenburger singles on a ground ball to center fielder Keenyn Walker. Robinzon Diaz scores. Rene Tosoni scores. Adam Weisenburger advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by center fielder Keenyn Walker.

Hector Gomez reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Cody Puckett. Adam Weisenburger to 3rd. Hector Gomez to 2nd.

Nick Shaw grounds out to first baseman Andy Wilkins.

Shea Vucinich hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Salvador Sanchez. Adam Weisenburger scores. Hector Gomez scores. Shea Vucinich to 2nd.

Kentrail Davis singles on a ground ball to second baseman Marcus Semien. Shea Vucinich to 3rd.

Jason Rogers grounds into a force out, third baseman Cody Puckett to second baseman Marcus Semien. Shea Vucinich scores. Kentrail Davis out at 2nd. Jason Rogers to 1st.

Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Cody Puckett to first baseman Andy Wilkins.

 

Game 2 is a 3:00 afternoon start on Sunday. Ariel Pena will take the mound for Huntsville. Broadcast will begin at 2:45 with Alex Cohen's pregame show.

[Mass Haas]

You'll find audio highlights (and lowlights) from the Manatees' game here -- look for the audio dated 4/20.

 

***

 

Rattler Radio Blog - Chris provides game details not evident in the box score

 

***

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio via Jeff Hem's blog -- “(Rob) Wooten’s Words”

 

Tonight’s interview is with Sounds reliever Rob Wooten, who discusses the team’s difficult road trip, his season so far, the dynamic on the team and in the bullpen, his first taste of major spring training camp (he was a non-roster invitee to Brewers camp) this year and the emergence of Mets pitcher and Wooten’s former University of North Carolina teammate, Matt Harvey.

[Mass Haas]

Stars Win 13-Inning Marathon Against Barons

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

To begin their five-game series at the new Regions Field, the Huntsville Stars beat the Birmingham Barons by a score of 10-5 in a near five-hour, 13-inning affair on Saturday night.

 

With the game scoreless in the fourth inning, the Stars drew first blood against Barons starting pitcher Wes Whisler. With one out, left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard and catcher Robinzon Diaz started things off with back-to-back singles. After Diaz was forced out at second on a Rene Tosoni fielders choice and catcher Adam Weisenburger drew a walk to load the bases, shortstop Hector Gomez walked to plate Kjeldgaard to put the Stars on the board. The next at-bat, second baseman Nick Shaw brought home Tosoni and Weisenburger on a two-run single that made the score 3-0.

 

In the fifth inning, the Huntsville bats were able to continue that momentum. Following a leadoff double by right fielder Kentrail Davis off of Barons reliever Ryan Buch, a single from first baseman Jason Rogers put runners at the corners with nobody out. With Kjeldgaard at the plate, an errant throw by Birmingham catcher Miguel Gonzalez while trying to catch Rogers stealing second allowed Davis to score. One batter later, an RBI double from Diaz plated Rogers to make the score 5-0.

 

Leading by that margain going into the eighth inning, the Stars bullpen managed to give the Barons a golden opportunity to win the ballgame. Righty Santo Manzanillo allowed the first four batters of the frame to reach base and gave up a bases-loaded walk to Barons designated hitter Andy Wilkins to put Birmingham on the board. After Manzanillo exited the game with the bases loaded without recording an out, lefty Brian Garman gave up a pair of sacrifice flies to designated hitter Dan Black and shortstop Tyler Saladino to cut their deficit to 5-3 at inning's end.

 

Then, in the bottom of the ninth, after center fielder Keenyn Walker drew a leadoff walk, second basemen Marcus Semien crushed a two-run homer over the left-field wall off of Stars righty Greg Holle to tie up the game. The blown save for Holle was his third of the year. When Holle left the game with two outs, lefty Thomas Keeling was able to strand the potential game-winning run just 90 feet away when he struck out Saladino swinging to send the game to extra innings.

 

The blown lead by the Stars bullpen wasted another strong start from Huntsville starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who threw five shutout innings while giving up just two hits and striking out six batters for a no-decision. With the scorless outing, Nelson's ERA dropped to 1.25 on the season in his first four starts.

 

With the score still tied 5-5 going into the 13th inning, the Stars offense was finally able to regain the tempo with the help of the Barons defense. After a double by Diaz and a single by Tosoni off of Barons righty Salvador Sanchez (L, 0-1) began the inning, a two-run single by Weisenburger made the score 7-5. Weisenburger, who advanced to second on a throwing error by Walker, moved to third on a throwing error by Barons third basemen Cody Puckett on grounder off the bat of Hector Gomez. With both runners in scoring postion, a throwing error by Sanchez on a attemped suicide squeeze from Stars third baseman Shea Vucinich allowed Weisenburger and Gomez to score. Later in the inning, Vucinich scored on an RBI groundout by Rogers to make the score 10-5.

 

In the bottom of the frame, with no more pitchers available for the Stars, position player T.J Mittelstaedt took the bump and threw a scoreless bottom half of the 13th inning to finish off the Stars victory. The 25-year-old gave up just one hit in his first outing on the hill since 2011.

 

For Mittelstaedt, he was the first Stars position player to take the bump since Chuckie Caufield in 2011. He helped earn the win for righty Eric Marzec, who improved to 1-0 on the year after throwing two scoreless innings in relief.

 

The victory for the Stars snapped their four-game losing streak overall. Huntsville is now 5-1 away from Joe Davis Stadium.

 

In the process of winning their first extra-inning game of 2013, the Stars also sent the Barons to their first ever loss at their new ballpark, as they were 5-0 at Regions Field before Saturday's game.

 

The Stars and Barons will play game two of their five-game series on Sunday afternoon. Huntsville will send RHP Ariel Pena (0-2, 6.35 ERA) to the bump to square off against Birmingham LHP Spencer Arroyo (1-0, 2.93). First pitch is at 3:00 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Check out the starts to their seasons - Sounds bullpen mates RHP Jesus Sanchez and LHP Travis Webb.

 

Sanchez, the converted Phillies' catcher, is on the 40-man and likely has a leg up on Michael Olmsted if another big league arm is needed. Webb's inking as a minor league free agent last fall included a big league non-roster camp invite. He's yet to see a big league mound.

[igor67]

Love Nelson's start to the season 5:1 K to BB and over a K/ inning.

[LouisEly]

Surprised to see Michael Strong back at Wisconsin after his 2012 line of 42.1 IP, 30 H, 60K, and .195 BA-A. Maybe they want to see his walks come down first.

 

Good step in the right direction for Fiers. Just need a little better control.