For the second straight game, the Albuquerque Isotopes (35-35) cashed in on clutch-hitting courtesy of Chin-Lung Hu as the infielder delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning to propel the 'Topes to a 5-4 Father's Day win over the Omaha Royals (27-43) Sunday night at Isotopes Park.After overcoming a two-run deficit in the seventh, the 'Topes surrendered a 3-2 lead serving up back-to-back solo shots from Scott Throman and Kila Ka'aihue in the bottom of the eighth to surrender the lead.
Albuquerque had an answer in the bottom of the ninth, however, using back-to-back singles to right from Dee Brown and J.D. Closser that gave the 'Topes runners on the corners as Jovanny Rosario, who entered as a pinch-runner for Brown, hustled to third on Closser's hit. A sacrifice fly from Juan Gonzalez pushed Rosario across, forcing a 4-4 tie and sending the Isotopes into their sixth extra-inning affair of the season.
In the 12th, Jason Repko, who matched Luis Maza with a team-high three hits, singled and swiped second to set up Hu's heroics.
The Albuquerque bullpen played just as important a role, holding the O-Royals hitless from the ninth on thanks to a combined four innings of relief from Travis Schlichting, Erick Threets and Henry Bonilla (3-5).
The Isotopes had to break another tie earlier in the game. Albuquerque could muster only one extra-base hit through the first four frames off Major League rehabbing Sidney Ponson, falling behind 2-0 early. While Jason Schmidt, who was making his second Major League rehab appearance in The Lab in the past month, surrendered just the two runs over five innings, the 'Topes bats finally aroused in the bottom of the fifth to create the game's first deadlock.
Brown led off the frame with a home run to straightaway center to cut the Omaha lead to 2-1. Closser followed with a double down the left-field line and took third on a groundout by Gonzalez. Maza delivered the tying tally, poking a single to right-center to plate Closser and knot the score at 2-2.
Maza dittoed the deed in the bottom of the seventh as the 'Topes manufactured the go-ahead run. Brown was plunked by a pitch to open the frame, moved to second on a Closser bunt and sauntered into third on a single by Gonzalez to set up Maza, who dumped a single to right to plate Brown and give the 'Topes the 3-2 edge.
The Isotopes also raised $3,199 toward prostate cancer research with an in-game jersey auction. Fittingly enough, Hu's jersey garnered the highest bid at $310, while Brown, Closser and Haeger took a three-way tie for second at $250 apiece.
Albuquerque will take a well-deserved day off tomorrow before resuming action Tuesday with the first of a four-game set against the Nashville Sounds at Isotopes Park. Right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado (4-5, 3.45) is scheduled to take the ball for the 'Topes against Sounds lefty Manny Parra (0-0, 1.50) in a 7:05 PM start from The Lab.
The second half of the Isotopes big eight-game homestand rolls on Tuesday with an Adult Fun Run. Also on tap are a TV giveaway courtesy of Baillios' on Thursday and a Drawstring Backpack Giveaway Friday. Tickets for any Isotopes game may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
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