Golden Spikes rock Tollberg, Stars

Tuesday, April 20, 1999 | 11:01 a.m.

OMAHA -- With a Pacific Coast League-leading team ERA of 2.81, it was only a matter of time before a Las Vegas Stars starter had a bad game.

That bad game occurred Monday night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Brian Tollberg (1-1) was tagged for nine hits and seven runs in just 5 2/3 innings as the Stars (6-5) dropped the opener of a four-game series with the Omaha Golden Spikes, 7-4.

The seven runs were by far the most surrendered by a Stars starter this season.

Rightfielder Mark Quinn had a two-run homer and third baseman Kit Pellow's RBI double highlighted a four-run sixth for Omaha (7-4).

The two teams resume their series this afternoon with a doubleheader. Lefty Heath Murray (1-0, 1.38 ERA) will oppose Omaha left-hander Glendon Rusch (0-2, 4.66) in the 3:35 p.m. (PDT) opener with another pair of lefties, Shane Dennis (0-1, 1.50) and Alvin Morman (0-0, 1.42), hooking up in the nightcap.

* STARS NOTES: Shortstop Juan Melo has been placed on the disabled list after breaking the index finger on his left hand in two places while sliding head-first into a base Saturday night at Iowa. Melo is expected to be sidelined three weeks. ... Infielder Ed Giovanola also sat out the game with a sore leg. ... Catcher Ben Davis, who entered the game with just one hit in 28 at-bats (.036 average), was one of four Stars to have two hits Monday night. ... First baseman Dusty Allen had four of Las Vegas' eight walks in the contest.