Reed, Lookouts Stifle Stars
In a well-fought pitchers battle, Huntsville righty Ariel Pena was outdueled by Chattanooga lefty Chris Reed as the Stars lost to the Lookouts by a score of 4-1 in game two of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium on Saturday night.
Unfortunately for Pena, he would put himself in line for the loss early in the ballgame. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Pena served up a solo homer to Lookouts outfielder Joc Pederson to give Chattanooga a 1-0 lead in the first. For Pederson, the homer was his ninth on the season and third against the Stars this season in just seven games.
The score stayed that way up until the fifth inning where Lookouts catcher Griff Erickson did the same and lofted a solo shot well over the right-field wall to put Chattanooga up by two.
Against Reed, the Stars could only manage one run in the eighth inning as catcher Robinzon Diaz hit a solo homer tucked just inside the left-field foul pole to cut the Stars deficit to one. The former Dodgers first round draft pick gave up just that run on five hits in a season high 8.0 innings pitched to improve to 3-5 on the year.
To ensure Reed the victory, Lookouts righty Yimi Garcia sent down the Stars scoreless in the ninth inning for his 12th save of the season.
Chattanooga scored two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a RBI double from third basemen Sean Burroughs and a RBI single from outfielder Bobby Coyle against Stars reliever Casey Medlen.
Despite taking the loss to fall to 5-5 on the year, Pena gave up just two runs and three hits in six innings while striking out seven batters. The outing marked the 11th time that Pena has given up two or fewer runs in a start this season.
Aside from Pena, lefty Brian Garman pitched two innings of scoreless relief for Huntsville.
On offense, the Stars were held to eight or less hits for the fifth straight game.
On Saturday, the Stars and Lookouts will play game two of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will send RHP Taylor Jungmann (7-3, 3.78 ERA) to the bump as Chattanooga will counter with RHP Andres Santiago (2-5, 5.19 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 CT.
For more information on the Huntsville Stars, visit huntsvillestars.com or call (256) 882-2562.