Bullpen key in victory

Ray Brewer

Saturday, Aug. 2, 1997 | 8:54 a.m.

One of the Las Vegas Stars biggest problems this year - especially in recent weeks - has been a questionable bullpen.

It's usually safe in assuming that no lead is good enough, as the bullpen has managed to give away its share of games.

The same scenario held almost held true Friday night at Cashman Field, with the Stars building a 7-1 lead before letting the Edmonton Trappers score four runs in the eighth to make the game interesting.

However, the Stars called upon relievers Dario Veras and Marc Kroon to close the door.

And they slammed it shut.

Veras threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings before Kroon was called up to retire the last batter for his 10th save of the season.

The end result, a 7-5 victory in the second game of a 12 game homestand.

"I think they (the bullpen) did a god job," Stars Manager Jerry Royster said. "Batchelor gave up a home run and a double but Dario came in and did a good job. That's what bullpens are supposed to do. Batchelor got in trouble and Dario picked him up."

The Stars scored two runs in each the third, fourth and fifth innings while starting pitcher Marino Castillo only gave up one run in the first seven innings to help the Stars build a six run lead.

In the eighth inning, Castillo surrendered a lead off home run to Edmonton's Jason Wood and then he gave up a single and a walk to the next to batters.

Batchelor came in for Castillo and promptly gave up a three-run home run to Scott Sheldon to make it 7-5 Stars.

Veras came in for Batchelor, only yielding one hit and Kroon got pinch hitter Willie Morales to pop out to the catcher on the first pitch to end the game.

Castillo, who improved to 3-4 overall, struckout five batters and threw 120 pitches.

"I would have let him (Castillo) complete the game if he could," Royster said.

Offensively, shortstop Jorge Velandia fueled the attack with a two-run home run in the fourth inning and Derrek Lee had a two-run single with two outs in the third inning. Dave Hajek added a two-run single in the fifth.

"They did a pretty good job," Royster said about the offense. "We put some runs up and Castillo was outstanding."

Doug Dascenzo went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Lee finished 3-for-4 and Velandia was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

NOTES: With the win, the Stars improve to 43-70 overall for the season and 17-24 for the second half standings... The Stars are 15-15 the years against the three Canadian affiliates...Saturday, the Stars and Trappers will meet again at 7:05 p.m. in the third game of the four game series. Kerry Taylor (6-6, 3.71) will go for the Stars against Andrew Lorraine (7-6, 5.12) for Edmonton.