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Suns Explode in Big Win over Stars

July 26, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Juan Gonzalez belted a home run and knocked in five runs to lead Jacksonville to 14-4 victory over Huntsville Thursday night in the fourth of a five-game set at the Baseball Grounds in a game delayed 50 minutes at the outset by rain. The Suns won for a third time in the series to improve to 24-10 in the second half and push their lead in the South Division to three games over Montgomery, while the Stars slipped to 20-14 in the second half and saw their North Division lead trimmed to one over Chattanooga after the Lookouts win over Mississippi earlier in the evening. The Suns have won six of the nine games between the teams this season and 16 out of 19 since last the start of least season.

Brendan Katin's grand slam with two outs in the first staked the visitors to the early lead against Joey Norrito, who had given up more than three runs only once in his first 11 starts. Huntsville has scored in the first inning in each game of the series and in seven of the last nine games. However, the Stars could manage just three singles over the next five innings against Norrito, who picked up his seventh win of the season. The right-hander walked two, struck out five and improved to 5-0 at home. The Suns have won 10 of the 12 games Norrito has started since he moved into the rotation on May 19.

Jacksonville got the game tied with a four-spot in the second inning against Stars' starter Steve Hammond, who had not allowed an earned run over 14 innings in his last two turns. A two-run, bases loaded double by Gonzalez got the scoring started and a Blake DeWitt sacrifice fly capped the rally. Hammond was lifted after two frames, giving up four runs on five hits, walking one and fanning two. Vince Perkins took over and gave up the go-ahead run on a two-out, run-scoring double in the third by James Tomlin, who collected four hits, knocked in three and scored once.

The Suns blew the game open in the fourth with four more runs, highlighted by Tomlin's two-run single. Gonzalez's three-run home run, his third in the series, capped off a four-run sixth inning that put the game out of reach. DeWitt homered for a second time in the series to finish off the scoring for the league's highest scoring team, which has hit a home run in each of the four games and six in the series. Mark Alexander went three scoreless, hitless innings, striking out five to record his second save of the series and fourth of the year. Jacksonville handed the Stars their second 10-run loss of the season and scored the most runs allowed in a game by Huntsville this season.

The series wraps up Friday night with Stars southpaw Sam Narron taking the hill against Suns' right-hander Zach Hammes. Coverage begins at 5:50 pm central time and can be heard on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com

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