Acuna stars for Huntsville

Ron Acuna drove in a season-high six runs on Sunday to lead the Huntsville Stars to a 12-4 romp over the Birmingham Barons at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Acuna smacked a two-run triple in the opening inning, an RBI single in the fourth and a two-run single in the sixth. It was his most productive performance since he knocked in five runs on Aug. 5, 2000 for Pittsfield of the New York-Penn League.

The 26-year-old right fielder is 10-for-20 with eight RBIs during a five-game hitting streak that has raised his batting average to .275.

The Stars matched season highs for victory margin and runs as Adam Heether and Drew Anderson each had two hits and scored three times. Steve Moss went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Callix Crabbe chipped in two hits and two runs scored.

Starter Travis Phelps (1-2) gave up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and five walks in five innings as the Stars (23-33) won their third straight game following a two-week winless stretch. Matt Smith gave up two runs on one hit over the final three innings to secure his first save.

Barons starter Tyler Lumsden (6-2) had his second straight rough outing after putting together a 21-inning scoreless streak. He was charged with six runs on 10 hits over four frames, striking out one and walking two.

Ricardo Nanita went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer for Birmingham (24-34).