Plantier's two homers give Stars another win

      Phil Plantier always has been a notorious all-or-nothing hitter.
      Right now, you can drop the "or-nothing."
      Plantier, who started Tuesday night's game against Vancouver on a 12-for-14 tear, homered in his first two at-bats at Cashman Field to help the Stars rally for a 10-7 victory, their third straight come-from-behind contest.
      After going 5-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs in Monday's dramatic 13-11 victory, Plantier hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and another two-run shot in the third, both off of Vancouver starter Fausto Macey. It gave the veteran outfielder seven consecutive hits over two games and helped the Stars turn a 5-0 first-inning deficit into a 7-5 lead after three innings.
      Plantier was robbed of an eighth-straight hit by Canadians center fielder Marquis Riley, who made a spectacular diving catch of a sinking line drive in the fifth.
      "All I try to do is have a good approach and try to put a good swing on the ball as often as possible," said Plantier. "If you do that, you can take what happens. I just try to approach every at-bat that way."
      Despite the Plantier's searing bat, the Stars (8-10) once again had to battle for the victory.
      Vancouver (9-9) tied the game at 7 in the fourth on Jovino Carvajal's two-run homer. But Stars first baseman Derrek Lee, who outslugged entertainer Danny Gans 3-2 in a pregame home-run hitting contest, launched a three-run homer in the sixth to put his team up, 10-7.
      Jim Bruske (2-0) earned the victory, and Marc Kroon picked up his second save.
      -- NOTES -- Third baseman Rene Gonzales was released by the Padres to make room for shortstop Jorge Velandia, who was activated from the disabled list. ... Stars manager Jerry Royster said starting pitcher Pete Smith has left the team indefinitely because of a family emergency. Royster said Smith, who was scheduled to start Friday, will be replaced in the rotation by Bruske.