Thursday, May 26, 2005

L 6-4

Zebulon, NC --- Brandon Gemoll homered and drove in four runs as the Huntsville Stars defeated the Carolina Mudcats 6-4 at Five County Stadium on Thursday night.

Gemoll blasted a 2-1 pitch from first-time Double-A starter Craig Molldrem over the right field wall.  The home run, Gemoll's first, came with two outs and turned a one-run inning into a 4-0 lead. 

Molldrem (L, 0-1) was called from low-A Greensboro to start in place of Yorman Bazardo, who was promoted to the major leagues before the game by Florida.  Molldrem, an 8th round pick last year from the University of Minnesota, allowed five hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings, fanning four.

Dennis Sarfate (W, 4-2) struck out eight over his 5 1/3 innings.  Sarfate had stymied the Mudcats (29-17) over the first five innings, escaping a 2nd and 3rd, none out situation in the fourth, but then surrendered three runs in the sixth as Carolina closed to within 4-3.  Jason Hill reached on a two-base throwing error from shortstop Enrique Cruz.  Jeremy Hermida walked ahead of a two-run triple by James Shanks.  Michael hit a flyball to center to bring Shanks home.

Huntsville (21-26) tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth against the Mudcats bullpen.  Ross Wolf allowed a run in the eighth, while Ryan Baker permitted a run-scoring single to Gemoll. 

Shanks paced the Mudcats offense, going 4-4 with two doubles, a triple and a single.  Robert Andino went 2-5 with an RBI. 

Despite the loss, the Mudcats remain 3 1/2 behind first place West Tenn, which lost 6-3 to Mobile in 10 innings on Thursday night.

Carolina begins an eight-game home-and-home series with Chattanooga Friday night at BellSouth Park.  Josh Johnson (4-1, 3.12) starts the opener against Phil Dumatrait (1-3, 3.03) at 7:15 PM ET.

HUNTSVILLE        0 0 0   0 4 0   0 1 1   ---   6   10   2   12

CAROLINA           0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 1   ---   4     9   0    9

WP - Sarfate (4-2)

LP - Molldrem (0-1)

S - DeWitt (5)

HR - Gemoll (1)

Time:  3:19

Att:  2,564