Stars end first half with flop against Fresno

FRESNO --- For the Las Vegas Stars, the two-day triple-A All Star break beginning today probably couldn't have come at a better time.

The Stars (39-44) limped back back from Fresno's Beiden Field by way of a seven-hour bus trip late Monday night after getting swept by the Pacific Coast League South Division-leading Fresno Grizzlies, 10-2.

Former Valley High star Doug Mirabelli's fourth inning two-run triple proved to be the game-winning hit for the Grizzlies (54-27), who have won their last seven games against Las Vegas and now lead the Stars by 16 games.

Las Vegas, which was limited to just three hits by four Fresno pitchers, has lost its last five games.

The Stars actually took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on third baseman Greg LaRocca's sixth home run of the season. But the Grizzlies quickly answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning against Las Vegas starter Heath Murray (5-6) thanks to a two-run homer by right fielder Jacob Cruz.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Mike Devereaux's RBI triple off of Cruz's glove, but Mirabelli's two-run triple off the bottom of the center field fence in the bottom half of the frame gave Fresno a 4-2 lead it would never relinguish.

Fresno also got home runs from second baseman Jason Canizano in the fourth, Cruz's second of the game in the eighth, and a two-run pinch-hit homer by Bobby Bonds Jr., also in the eighth.

The Stars return to action on Thursday night at Tucson.

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