Stars see win streak come to end

Matt O'Brien

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999 | 10:33 a.m.

In Tuesday's game against Albuquerque, Dusty Allen's bat was responsible for a Las Vegas Stars come-from-behind victory.

On Wednesday night, his glove helped contribute to a lopsided defeat.

On an ideal night for baseball at Cashman Field, the Stars dropped the third game of a four-game series against the Dukes, 9-3, in front of an announced crowd of 3,866.

The loss snapped Las Vegas' four-game winning streak and dropped them to 63-74 on the season. Albuquerque, the triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, improved to 65-69.

The Dukes struck early with some help from the Stars. After Brent Cookson drew a lead-off walk in the second inning, former major leaguer Wes Chamberlain hit a sharp line drive to second base. Las Vegas' David Newhan fielded the ball and threw to first in attempts to double-off the runner. The throw, which appeared only slightly off line, got past Allen and wound up in the Dukes' dugout. Cookson was awarded third on the play and later scored on a Kevin Grijak double.

Another catchable ball eluded Allen in the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Grijak lined a ball that grazed Allen's glove and bounded into right field. Cookson scored on the play to give Albuquerque a 6-1 advantage.

Allen was not charged with an error on either play.

"Any ball that hits your glove you should probably catch," admitted Allen, who blasted a grand slam Tuesday to propel the Stars to victory. "It hit off the end of my mitt and squirted into right field. I feel I should've had it."

But, ultimately, it was the Stars' arms and not Allen's glove that cost Las Vegas the game. Starter Shane Dennis walked five batters and surrendered six runs (five earned) in five innings of work. The fourth inning was particularly rough on the lefty. He gave up three doubles (including one to opposing pitcher Ricky Stone) and four runs in the extended inning.

Brendan Sullivan replaced Dennis to start the sixth. The submariner went two innings and surrendered two earned runs. Stan Spencer, in his first appearance since being demoted by the Padres, pitched the final two innings, fanning two and allowing one earned run.

Offensively, the Stars were held in check by Stone (6-9). Mike Darr had an RBI single in the first and catcher Kevin Lidle smashed a solo shot in the seventh, but, otherwise, the bats were quiet.

The Stars remaining RBI came on a ground out by Chris Prieto in the fifth.

* BROADCAST NOTE: Because of the Rebels' opener at North Texas University, tonight's Stars game will be aired on KENO 1460 AM. The broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m.

* UP NEXT: The Stars wrap up their four-game series with the Dukes tonight at 7:05 p.m. In the final home game of the season, lefty Al Drumheller (5-4, 4.94 ERA) is scheduled to face Albuquerque starter Jamie Arnold (0-1, 5.27 ERA).

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