Redbirds defeat Stars, 5-1

Monday, May 11, 1998 | 10:02 a.m.

MEMPHIS--- It wasn't quite as dramatic as Babe Ruth, but Henderson resident Wayne Kirby called his shot Sunday afternoon at Tim McCarver Stadium.

After doing a pregame radio show with Las Vegas Stars announcer Jon Sandler, Kirby told Sandler he would hit a homer over the Autozone sign in right field.

And with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Kirby did just that off of Stars' reliever Al Newman, his three-run shot propelling the Memphis Redbirds to a 5-1 victory.

It was the fifth straight win for Memphis (17-13) over the Stars this season dating to an April 25-28 series at Cashman Field. The Redbirds made the most of their offensive chances, finishing the contest with no men left on base, a baseball rarity.

Kirby's homer came after Stars third baseman George Arias let a potential inning-ending double play ball by Redbirds first baseman Danny Sheaffer roll through his legs for an error. Kirby then made Las Vegas (16-14) pay dearly for the miscue when he launched a breaking ball by the Newman over the right field fence for his game-winning home run.

Meanwhile, the Stars' offense continued to struggle badly since the promotion of cleanup hitter Eddie Williams to the San Diego Padres. Las Vegas managed just four hits Sunday, including a solo home run by left fielder Charles Poe in the fourth inning. Las Vegas has scored just two runs in its last 18 innings, on solo home runs by Poe and catcher Mandy Romero.

One bright spot for Las Vegas continues to be starting pitching. Recently-acquired Scott Sanders, who hadn't pitched in almost a month, started Sunday and allowed just three hits and one run in five innings before departing. He walked one and struck out four.

Sanders was filling in for No. 1 starter Stan Spencer, who had a cortisone shot for his sore right foot a few days earlier. Spencer, who had to leave his two previous outing because of soreness in the foot, is expected to return to his normal spot in the rotation on Friday night at Cashman Field against the Tucson Sidewinders.