Stars sweep after Vitiello is called up by Padres

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

TUCSON -- The Stars lost another key player to the parent San Diego Padres on Sunday when Triple-A All-Star Game MVP Joe Vitiello's contact was purchased by the Padres.

But considering the way Las Vegas' pitching staff came through in a doubleheader sweep of the Tucson Sidewinders on Sunday night, the Stars (51-41) might be able to survive the loss of Vitiello's big bat (.350, 11 HRs, 46 RBIs) as they head into tonight's showdown with first-place Sacramento at Cashman Field.

The Stars limited the Sidewinders (46-46) to one run and six hits in 14 innings while sweeping Tucson, 4-1 and 1-0, at Tucson Electric Park.

Rodrigo Lopez struck out the first six batters he faced in the opener and allowed just two hits in five shutout innings before giving way to Vicente Palacios. Palacios yielded only a solo homer to Chip Sell to notch his seventh save.

In the nightcap, four Las Vegas relievers -- Brandon Sullivan, Domingo Guzman, Dave Maurer and Brandon Kolb -- combined to one-hit the Sidewinders.

Las Vegas managed just two hits itself in the second game, but that was good enough for the only run.

Second baseman Nathan Tebbs opened the game with a single and scored on Mike Darr's double down the left-field line.