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06/03/2009 10:36 PM ET
Holliman Hurls Huntsville Past Barons
By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars
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Mark Holliman tossed seven solid innings and Yohannis Perez belted a home run and knocked in a pair of runs to carry Huntsville past Birmingham 3-1 Wednesday in the fourth of a five-game set between division leaders at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars improved to 30-22 and maintained their game and a half lead over Carolina in the North, while the Barons fell to 35-18 and saw their lead over Mobile in the South trimmed to three and a half games.
Dayan Viciedo led off the second inning with a single, stole second base and moved to third base on an errant throw by catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Stefan Gartrell then walked before Javier Colina grounded into a double play to chase home Viciedo to plate the game's first run. The Barons did not push a runner past second base the rest of the night.
Freddy Parejo opened the third with a single, stole his first base of the season and scored to tie the game when Perez followed with a single into center field. Kevin Melillo started the fourth inning with a single, moved to third base on a Drew Anderson double and scored the go-ahead run on a Vinny Rottino ground out.
Holliman did not allow a hit after the third inning and fashioned his longest outing of the season to win for the first time in five turns at home. He walked three and fanned five and was followed by Nick Bucci, who threw a scoreless eighth inning. Robert Hinton took over in the ninth and retired the side in order, including two strikeouts, to nail down his second save of the series and sixth of the season.
Kyle McCulloch was the hard luck loser for Birmingham, going seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while walking one and fanning three. He fell to 5-5 and lasted seven frames for a sixth time in 11 turns. Jhonny Nunez took over in the eighth and gave up a leadoff long ball to Perez, who hit his second of the season and first since April 14.
The series wraps up Thursday night with left-hander David Welch taking the hill for the Stars against Birmingham southpaw Aaron Poreda. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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