Stars Miss Post-Season for First Time in Three Years
Pedro Viola worked 6 1/3 strong innings to pitch Chattanooga to a 2-1 win Monday afternoon in the last regular season game of the 2008 campaign at AT&T Field. The Stars finished the second half at 32-38 and with an overall mark of 73-67, while the Lookouts ended with a 30-39 record in the second half and 67-72 overall. The Stars took the season series 14-11, winning eight of 15 in Chattanooga.
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the fourth inning on a single by Chris Heisey and two walks. Drew Anderson legged out an infield hit to first base to knock in Heisey with the game's first run and an Eric Eymann sacrifice fly chased home Tonys Gutierrez to make it a two-run rally. Stars' starter Alex Periard was taken out after five frames, giving up five hits, walking a pair and fanning three. He suffered the loss to finish at 2-4 and 0-2 against the Looks. Steve Bray tossed two scoreless innings and Omar Aguilar one to finish off the season.
Viola had blanked the Stars on three hits through six innings before Michael Garciaparra doubled to lead off the seventh, and push his hitting streak to 12 games, and came in to score when Cole Gillespie followed with a two-base hit to knock in his 79th run. Viola struck out Mike Bell for the first out and was lifted in favor of Michael Hrrynio, who got two ground outs to end the frame and keep the Looks in the lead. Viola gave up five hits, walked one and struck out a season-best 11 to earn his fourth win. Hyrnio and Lee Tabor retired the Stars in order in the eighth and Joe Valentine had a perfect ninth inning to record the save and bring the season to a close.
Angel Salome, who was promoted to Milwaukee after Saturday's game, wound up leading the Southern League in hitting with a .360 average, while Alcides Escobar, who was also promoted to big leagues, and Michael Brantley each finished in the top ten in hitting. Check the Stars web site for further information about where players ranked in the final offensive and pitching categories.
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the fourth inning on a single by Chris Heisey and two walks. Drew Anderson legged out an infield hit to first base to knock in Heisey with the game's first run and an Eric Eymann sacrifice fly chased home Tonys Gutierrez to make it a two-run rally. Stars' starter Alex Periard was taken out after five frames, giving up five hits, walking a pair and fanning three. He suffered the loss to finish at 2-4 and 0-2 against the Looks. Steve Bray tossed two scoreless innings and Omar Aguilar one to finish off the season.
Viola had blanked the Stars on three hits through six innings before Michael Garciaparra doubled to lead off the seventh, and push his hitting streak to 12 games, and came in to score when Cole Gillespie followed with a two-base hit to knock in his 79th run. Viola struck out Mike Bell for the first out and was lifted in favor of Michael Hrrynio, who got two ground outs to end the frame and keep the Looks in the lead. Viola gave up five hits, walked one and struck out a season-best 11 to earn his fourth win. Hyrnio and Lee Tabor retired the Stars in order in the eighth and Joe Valentine had a perfect ninth inning to record the save and bring the season to a close.
Angel Salome, who was promoted to Milwaukee after Saturday's game, wound up leading the Southern League in hitting with a .360 average, while Alcides Escobar, who was also promoted to big leagues, and Michael Brantley each finished in the top ten in hitting. Check the Stars web site for further information about where players ranked in the final offensive and pitching categories.