BayBears Slam Stars in 12-2 Rout

The Mobile BayBears snapped a three-game losing streak in grand fashion Thursday by shooting the Huntsville Stars in a 12-2 massacre.

Seven runs in the ninth inning and a solid effort from Matt Torra lifted the BayBears in a 12-2 pounding of the first-place Huntsville Stars at Joe W. Davis Stadium.

Torra (4-1) was masterful as he held the league's best offense to just one run on seven scattered hits over six innings. Torra was given the lead by Rusty Ryal, who connected with a two-out, three-run homer in the first inning off Huntsville (23-11) starter Brae Wright (1-4).

In the fourth, the Stars drew closer on Chris Errecart's solo homer, but Torra got that run back for himself in the fifth inning on an RBI double to knock in Orlando Mercado. An RBI single by Cyle Hankerd in the sixth pushed the BayBears (16-18) lead to 5-1.

A solo homer by Mat Gamel in the seventh off Cody Evans was the last run the Stars scored before the BayBears' outburst in the ninth, capped by Hankerd's grand slam off David Johnson, who was responsible for all seven ninth-inning tallies. Hankerd's granny was the first by a BayBear since Ryal jacked one on August 27, 2007 against the Suns.

Adam Howard (3-1, 4.45) pitches on Friday night at 7:05 in the finale of the BayBears' 10-game road trip in Huntsville. The BayBears return home on Saturday night to battle the Jacksonville Suns at Hank Aaron Stadium. Call (251) 479-BEAR for tickets or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.

BEAR CLAWS

• The BayBears eclipsed season-highs for runs in a game (12) and runs in an inning (7).
• The BayBears hadn't received a four-hit game from anyone until this week.  Now they have two, as Yunesky Sanchez picked up four singles on Thursday.
• The BayBears also played an errorless game, breaking a six-game string of at least one error per game.

---

Are you a full member of FutureBacks.com? If not, then you are missing out on the top Diamondbacks coverage we provide to our premium members, as well as full access to over 400 other Scout.com sites.  Join us today!