Final: Huntsville 6, Carolina (Marlins) 5
Huntsville Site Game Summary:
Gamel Gets Offense Going Again in Win Over Carolina
Mat Gamel collected five hits, scored twice and knocked in a run to pace a 17-hit attack in Huntsville's 6-5 win over Carolina Sunday afternoon to wrap up a six-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Stars improved to 6-6 in the second half after gaining a series split, while the Mudcats dropped to 6-6. The Stars have won four of 11 against Carolina this season, with seven of the contests decided by either one or two runs.
Gamel's double moved Mike Bell to third base with one out in the first inning but the Stars could not score against Josh Johnson, making his second rehab start with the Mudcats, who struck out Matt LaPorta and induced Cole Gillespie to fly out. Troy Cate, making his first start for the Stars, gave up a one-out single to Manuel Mayorson, who advanced to third base on a single by Chris Coghlan. Gaby Sanchez then lined out to the third baseman Gamel, who made an errant, one-hop throw to first base to try to double off Coghlan that allowed Mayorson to score the game's first run.
Chris Errecart singled to lead off the second inning and Carlos Corporan singled with one out before Cate dropped down a bunt base hit, in a sacrifice situation, to load the bases. Freddy Parejo grounded out to push in Errecart to tie the game at one. Gamel led off the third with a single and advanced to third base on a single by LaPorta, who moved to second base when nobody was at the bag to take Cameron Maybin's throw back to the infield. Gillespie grounded out to score Gamel and move LaPorta to third before Errecart singled to drive in LaPorta to give the Stars a 3-1 lead. Gamel's two-out RBI hit in the fourth scored Mike Bell to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage.
Carolina crept back into the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Bryan Peterson, who was playing in his first game at the double-A level. Cate struck out the next two hitters to end the inning and worked around a leadoff hit by Maybin in the fifth and was lifted after allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and fanning six.
Bell singled with two outs in the sixth and Johnson was taken out after reaching his pitch limit and replaced by Tim Corcoran, who suffered the loss in relief on Wednesday. Gamel greeted him with a single that moved Bell to third base and both scored when LaPorta followed with a double to make it 6-3. Johnson took the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits, while Cate grabbed the win.
Steve Bray threw scoreless relief for two innings before another two-run single by Peterson in the eighth cut the lead to 6-5 with his fourth hit of the day. Bray struck out Brett Hayes and was replaced by Jason Shiell, who got pinch-hitter Grant Psomas to fly out to end the inning. Juan Sandoval retired the side in order in the ninth with three ground balls to earn his second save of the series and eighth of the season.
The Stars open a four-game series against Tennessee Monday night with southpaw David Welch making the start against Smokies' left-hander James Russell. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.
Huntsville Box Score
Mat Gamel at .379 / .442 / .636 (OPS 1.078); pinch-hit appearance only, but Alcides Escobar has now played in 80 of 82 games, that's fine...
Huntsville Game Log
It looks as though rather than waste a pinch-hitter to lead off the 6th, David Welch hit for starting pitcher Troy Cate, who was going to be removed regardless...
Huntsville Site Game Summary:
Gamel Gets Offense Going Again in Win Over Carolina
Stars Head to Sevierville After Series Split
By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars
Mat Gamel collected five hits, scored twice and knocked in a run to pace a 17-hit attack in Huntsville's 6-5 win over Carolina Sunday afternoon to wrap up a six-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Stars improved to 6-6 in the second half after gaining a series split, while the Mudcats dropped to 6-6. The Stars have won four of 11 against Carolina this season, with seven of the contests decided by either one or two runs.
Gamel's double moved Mike Bell to third base with one out in the first inning but the Stars could not score against Josh Johnson, making his second rehab start with the Mudcats, who struck out Matt LaPorta and induced Cole Gillespie to fly out. Troy Cate, making his first start for the Stars, gave up a one-out single to Manuel Mayorson, who advanced to third base on a single by Chris Coghlan. Gaby Sanchez then lined out to the third baseman Gamel, who made an errant, one-hop throw to first base to try to double off Coghlan that allowed Mayorson to score the game's first run.
Chris Errecart singled to lead off the second inning and Carlos Corporan singled with one out before Cate dropped down a bunt base hit, in a sacrifice situation, to load the bases. Freddy Parejo grounded out to push in Errecart to tie the game at one. Gamel led off the third with a single and advanced to third base on a single by LaPorta, who moved to second base when nobody was at the bag to take Cameron Maybin's throw back to the infield. Gillespie grounded out to score Gamel and move LaPorta to third before Errecart singled to drive in LaPorta to give the Stars a 3-1 lead. Gamel's two-out RBI hit in the fourth scored Mike Bell to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage.
Carolina crept back into the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Bryan Peterson, who was playing in his first game at the double-A level. Cate struck out the next two hitters to end the inning and worked around a leadoff hit by Maybin in the fifth and was lifted after allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and fanning six.
Bell singled with two outs in the sixth and Johnson was taken out after reaching his pitch limit and replaced by Tim Corcoran, who suffered the loss in relief on Wednesday. Gamel greeted him with a single that moved Bell to third base and both scored when LaPorta followed with a double to make it 6-3. Johnson took the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits, while Cate grabbed the win.
Steve Bray threw scoreless relief for two innings before another two-run single by Peterson in the eighth cut the lead to 6-5 with his fourth hit of the day. Bray struck out Brett Hayes and was replaced by Jason Shiell, who got pinch-hitter Grant Psomas to fly out to end the inning. Juan Sandoval retired the side in order in the ninth with three ground balls to earn his second save of the series and eighth of the season.
The Stars open a four-game series against Tennessee Monday night with southpaw David Welch making the start against Smokies' left-hander James Russell. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.
Huntsville Box Score
Mat Gamel at .379 / .442 / .636 (OPS 1.078); pinch-hit appearance only, but Alcides Escobar has now played in 80 of 82 games, that's fine...
Huntsville Game Log
It looks as though rather than waste a pinch-hitter to lead off the 6th, David Welch hit for starting pitcher Troy Cate, who was going to be removed regardless...
