Casio Grider tied the game with his two out home run in the eighth inning.
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Huntsville Stars(42-24), winner of the first-half title of the Southern League North Division, won a back and forth game with the Chattanooga Lookouts(26-24), who will apparently finish last in the first-half SL North, Tuesday night eventually pulling out a 7-6 win at Joe Davis Stadium.
Adam Weisenburger's pinch hit rbi single against Juan Gonzalez(1-4) broke a 6-6 tie in the eighth which put the Stars ahead 7-6.
David Goforth racked up his fourteenth save of the year in the ninth when he nailed down a 1-2-3 inning on three deep flyouts to the outfield.
Mitch Haniger hit a pair of two-run homeruns for the Stars. It was Haniger's second game in his last six contests where he hit two homeruns.
In the first inning, Haniger launched a two-run shot down the left field line giving the Stars a 2-0 lead.
Chattanooga got on the scoreboard in the fifth on a solo home run from Alberto Rosario making it 2-1.
Haniger then homered again in the sixth inning. It was another two run homer down the left field line putting the Stars ahead 4-1. Haniger now has eight home runs on the year.
The Lookouts took the lead in the seventh as they brought nine batters to the plate. Noel Cuevas just barely cleared the wall in left field with his third home run of the season.
Chris O'Brien cut the Stars lead to 4-3 in the same inning when he reached on a fielder's choice.
With two outs in the inning, Daniel Mayora grounded a ball towards the shortstop Nick Shaw. Shaw attempted to play it off the short hop and it got past him which allowed two runs to score. Chattanooga took a 5-4 lead on the error by Shaw.
In the bottom of the seventh the Stars took the lead again on Shawn Zarraga's two run double to left field.
With the Stars leading 6-5 going into the eighth, Casio Grider tied the game with two outs. He homered over the left field wall against Tim Dillard (3-0) tying the game at 6-6.
The Stars had an answer for Chattanooga's run in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Gonzalez walked the lead off hitter D'Vontrey Richardson.
Shaw bunted Richardson to second. Weisenburger then pinch hit and drove a pitch to right field for what turned out to be the game winning rbi single scoring Richardson.
The Stars lead Chattanooga 1-0 in their five game series. Game two will be played Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium. RHP Tyler Cravy(8-1, 1.63) will start for the Stars. Chattanooga will send RHP Tyson Brummett(4-5, 2.63) to the mound.
--- Source: al.com/sports