Villanueva sparkles for Stars

Carlos Villanueva pitched a one-hitter as visiting Huntsville blanked Tennessee, 4-0, on Saturday at Smokies Park.

Villanueva (4-2) allowed a two-out single to Miguel Montero in the first inning and retired 24 consecutive batters before walking Danny Richar with two outs in the ninth. He got Jerry Gil to ground out as the Stars (18-18) snapped a four-game losing streak.

"My last three starts I was rushing a little bit, but I fixed my mechanics and concentrated on my fastball today," said Villanueva, who struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 3.23.

Signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants in 2002, the 22-year-old Villanueva went 8-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 21 starts with Brevard County of the Florida State League last season before earning a promotion to Huntsville, where he was 1-3 with a 7.40 ERA in four starts.

"It's up there," Villaneuva responded when asked if this was his best performance. "This is my first complete game shutout.

"I was talking to our regular shortstop (while Hunstville was batting). I told him not to leave," he added.

The Stars gave Villanueva an early lead. With one out in the first, Callix Crabbe walked and stole second and third before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Ron Acuna.

Kennard Bibbs delivered an RBI single in the fifth and Jeffrey Eure doubled in Acuna in the sixth. Acuna singled and stole second before scoring Huntsville's final run on Lou Palmisano's RBI single in the eighth.

Acuna and Palmisano each went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Tennessee starter Adam Bass (2-3) surrendered three runs on six hits over six innings. The Smokies (17-20) were shut out for the third time this month.