Stars Toss No-Hitter in Win Over Smokies
September 7, 2007 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release
Corey Thurman, David Johnson and Luis Pena combined on the first home no-hitter in franchise history in Huntsville's 5-0 win over Tennessee Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium in the second game of the North Division Playoff series. The Stars evened up the best-of-five series at a game apiece after exploding for all five runs in the sixth inning against Smokies' starter Justin Berg.
Thurman issued two walks in the first inning before getting Issmael Salas to fly out for the final out of the frame. From there, the right-hander retired the side in order in each of the next five innings, recording six of his seven strikeouts in the game. Berg had blanked the Stars on three singles through five frames before the Stars broke through in the sixth.
Hernan Iribarren and Adam Heether opened the inning with singles before Lou Palmisano dropped down a sacrifice bunt attempt that third baseman Kyle Reynolds fielded but his throw to first base pulled second baseman Nate Spears off the bag, allowing Palmisano to reach to load the bases. Michael Brantley then grounded the next pitch into right field to chase home the first two runs of the night. Steve Moss singled with one out to reload the bases and force manager Don Money to make a decision whether or not to leave Thurman in the game. The skipper opted to send up pinch-hitter Mike Goetz, who made the move pay off by chopping a single over a leaping shortstop Robinson Chirinos for a two-run single to push the lead to 4-0. Steve Sollmann's fielder's choice grounder plated Moss with the final run of the night.
Johnson took over for Thurman and walked Tyler Colvin with one out in the seventh before getting Salas to ground into a broken bat, inning-ending double play. He then struck out the side in the eighth before turning the game over to Pena, who saved 12 games during the regular season. The hard-throwing right-hander retired Eric Patterson on a grounder to second, Jorge Cortes on a comebacker and got Casey McGehee to ground out to second base on an 0-1 offering to finish off the third no-hitter in Stars' history. Dana Allison tossed a no-hitter at Birmingham on August 3, 1992 and Tanyon Sturtze kept Chattanooga hitless on June 13, 1993 at Engel Stadium.
The series continues Saturday afternoon with southpaw Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Smokies' right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Coverage of the game begins at 3:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...
Southern League Stories from September 7, 2007
- M-Braves Even Series with Win in Game Two - Mississippi Braves
- Stars Toss No-Hitter in Win Over Smokies - Huntsville Stars
- Stars Pitching No Hits Tennessee - Tennessee Smokies
- Stacy Long named Southern League Sportswriter of the Year - SL1
- Ron Potesta named Southern League Radio Broadcaster of the Year - SL1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Huntsville Stars Stories
- Chattanooga Hangs on to Eliminate Stars
- Stars Force Game Five with Shutout
- Late Hit Leads Lookouts to Win
- Series Moves to Chattanooga
- Stars One Hit Lookouts to Even Series
