Darr belts 8th home run to lift Spencer, Stars past Salt Lake

Matt O'Brien

Friday, Aug. 13, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

Stars fans who were worried their team had used up all its runs in Wednesday's pummeling of the Salt Lake Buzz were assured otherwise early in the final game of the homestand.

Before an announced crowd of 7,007 Thursday night at Cashman Field, the Stars posted four runs in the first three innings and went on to defeat the Buzz, 7-5, behind timely pitching from starter Stan Spencer and productive hitting from rightfielder Mike Darr.

The game was the last of 16 this season between South Division rivals Las Vegas (54-64) and Salt Lake (57-59). The Stars won the series 10-6.

"We had a really good series," said Stars manager Mike Ramsey, who seemed in good spirits following the win. "We needed a series like this against a team that's ahead of us (in the standings). We're in the hunt right now."

Las Vegas is 7 1/2 games behind division-leader Fresno with 26 games remaining. Sixteen of the contests are on the road.

If Ramsey finds a way to get Spencer his allotted starts, a late charge is not out of the question. The 6-3 right-hander, who began the season with the San Diego Padres, is 5-1 over his last six starts since being activated from the disabled list (strained groin). He didn't have his best stuff Thursday, but worked out of jams in each of the first two innings to earn his fifth triple-A win of the season.

"I struggled a little bit with command, but you have to give their hitters some credit," said Spencer, who went 6 1/3 innings and struck out six.

"They hit some good pitches. Overall, I think it was a positive outing."

Matt Whiteside replaced Spencer in the sixth and held Salt Lake for tat bay he final 2 2/3 innings, recording his fifth save of the season.

While Spencer and Whiteside combined to contain the Buzz, Darr did the damage offensively. Facing a southpaw starter (Gary Rath, 3-8), the left-hand hitting Darr had little trouble covering the plate. He went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a two-run homer to opposite field in the fifth.

"I was sitting on a fastball and (Rath) threw me a slider away," Darr said of the home run, his eighth of the season. "I put my bat out there and (the ball) went over the fence. I was just trying to make an easy swing."

George Arias (2-for-4) and Wiki Gonzalez added an RBI apiece.

* GONZALEZ PROMOTED: The San Diego Padres called up catcher Wiki Gonzalez following Thursday night's win over the Buzz. Gonzalez, who began the season in double-A Mobile, batted .272 in 24 games with the Stars.

"He earned his way up there," said Ramsey.

"He's really worked hard the last couple of years. Once he got to (Las Vegas), he just continued to improve."

Gonzalez will report to San Diego today.

* UP NEXT: The Stars go on the road for eight games, making stops in New Orleans and Oklahoma (City) for respective four-game series.

Heath Murray (4-3, 3.96) is scheduled to face Zephyrs starter Bob Scanlan (6-14, 5.53) in the first game of the road trip Friday at 5:05 p.m.