Kirby's legs help Stars beat Tucson

As a new father, Wayne Kirby will no doubt be asked to show some hustle around the house in the coming weeks. Sunday afternoon, the veteran outfielder also showed some on the basepaths.

Pinch-hitting in the seventh inning, Kirby legged out a double to spark a Las Vegas rally as the Stars beat the Tucson Sidewinders 6-3 Sunday in a Pacific Coast league game before a small crowd of fewer than 1,000 spectators at Cashman Field.

Kirby, a veteran major league outfielder who joined the Stars in mid-season, had missed two games after his wife gave birth last week.

The Stars were down 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh when Stars manager Mike Ramsey called on the 35-year-old journeyman. Kirby reached second base when Tucson center fielder Dante Powell didn't hustle after Kirby's hit.

Tucson manager Chris Speier was not pleased with Powell's effort. He asked for time and removed his center fielder from the game.

Kirby advanced to third on Chris Prieto's ground out -- it probably would have been a double-play grounder had Kirby not made it to second -- and Mike Darr followed with an RBI double. Darr later scored on an RBI single by Dusty Allen.

Roberto Rivera earned the win for the Stars in relief. He pitched one inning, striking out one and allowing two hits.

Las Vegas used five pitchers in the contest. Starter Shane Dennis worked five serviceable innings, yielding four hits while walking two and striking out five Sidewiders.

Allen and Gary Matthews Jr. each had a pair of hits for the Stars, who have won two straight over Tucson after dropping seven of eight with the Sidewiders prior to this series at Cashman. The Stars have been playing well at home -- Sunday's win was their ninth in their past 11 outings at Cashman.

Game three of the teams' four-game series is set for 7:05 tonight. Tucson lefty Nick Bierbrodt (1-3, 6.34 ERA) will oppose Stars southpaw Heath Murray (4-4, 4.60).

Erik Sabel, the second of three Tucson pitchers, absorbed the loss. He fanned two and allowed two runs on three hits.

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