Steve Smith was roughed up in 7th.
photo by Tim Evearitt
HUNTSVILLE -- A wholesale breakdown of the bullpen spelled a disappointing defeat for the Chattanooga Lookouts Monday night.
The Huntsville Stars, shut out trailing the Lookouts and starter Andres Santiago by four runs in the sixth inning, scored nine consecutive runs and routed the stunned visitors 9-5 in the second game of the five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium.
The teams resume play tonight at 7:45 with Duke von Schamann (1-0) getting the start for the Lookouts.
Santiago rolled through the Stars for five innings Monday night, much as Chris Reed did the night before, not allowing a hit while the Lookouts built a 4-0 lead on a two-run Jon Garcia double, a Matt Wallach RBI single and a wild pitch.
But in the Huntsville sixth, the dam burst suddenly.
The no-hitter vanished with a double from leadoff man Mike Walker. Santiago allowed an RBI single to Chad Strang, but got a single and strikeout and needed just one more out to get out of the inning with a one-run lead. But in the pivotal at-bat of the night, Kentrail Davis earned a walk to load the bases and end Santiago's night.
The Stars went to town against reliver Jharel Cotton. Shea Vucinich cleared the bases with a three-run double. After a walk, Adam Weisenburger also doubled to score two more.
In the seventh, the Stars scored three more runs on three hits and a pair of walks from reliever Steve Smith. Vucinich added another RBI on a base hit to end the night's scoring.
Stars starter David Goforth (1-1) was able to hang around long enough to earn the win, working six innings..