Stars start second half with a victory

Tuesday, June 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Las Vegas erupted for five runs in the fourth inning with the help of two home runs and six walks and the Stars held on for an 8-6 victory over the Albuquerque Dukes in the first game of the second half of the split season.

The Stars took a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning of Monday night's game on a two-run home run by Todd Steverson, a solo shot by Sean Mulligan and a pair of bases-loaded walks. Albuquerque pitchers walked six Stars batters in the inning and 10 in the game.

The Dukes closed to 6-5 with a five-run inning of their own, in the bottom half of the fourth. Five straight singles to open the inning produced three runs, Carlos Hernandez added a sacrifice fly and Jay Kirkpatrick doubled in the fifth run.

The Stars padded their lead with a run in the fifth on a bunt single by Denny Harriger and a throwing error by Dukes pitcher Mark Mimbs. Las Vegas went up 8-5 in the ninth on a leadoff single by Jim Tatum and an RBI double by Steverson.

Harriger (5-4) allowed five runs on nine hits in seven innings for the win.

Albuquerque added an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth off Dustin Hermanson. Hermanson earned his 13th save of the year and the 27th in three seasons in Las Vegas to become the Stars' all-time saves leader.

The series continues tonight at 6 with the Stars' Pete Smith facing the Dukes' Will Brunson.