'Topes Rally and Hold on to 9-8 Win
Published on May 6, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
The Albuquerque Isotopes (15-11) scored five times in the seventh to take a commanding five-run lead then held on for dear life before closing out the Omaha Storm Chasers (16-11) for a 9-8 win on a beautiful Cinco De Mayo Thursday at Isotopes Park. With the win, the âTopes close out their four-game series with the Chasers with a hard-earned split.
Omaha grabbed a quick lead with two runs in the top of the third, but Albuquerque answered in the bottom of the frame when Dee Gordon beat out an infield single, stole second, and was immediately picked up by A.J. Ellis to cut the Storm Chasers lead to 2-1.
One inning later, Trayvon Robinson would tie the game with one swing of the bat, blasting a monstrous solo homer to left-center that knotted the game at 2-2.
The Chasers grabbed the lead again in the fifth on RBI singles by Johnny Giavotella and Clint Robinson, but again the âTopes stormed back. With newest Isotope Eugenio Velez on third and Gordon on second with one out, Trent Oeltjen laced a single to right, easily plating both runners and tying the game at 4-4.
Albuquerque's offense finally broke free in the seventh, scoring five runs to seize control of the game. Gordon started the frame with a double and after he was sacrificed to third by Ellis, was followed by back-to-back walks to Oeltjen and Corey Smith, loading the bases. That set up Jamie Hoffmann, who delivered the Isotopes their first lead of the game with a two-run single, easily scoring Gordon and Oeltjen to put the home team on top 6-4. After an intentional walk to Robinson loaded the bases again, John Lindsey made the Chasers pay with a single up the middle that plated Smith and Hoffmann to augment the advantage to 8-4 Isotopes. Finally, Velez added a sacrifice fly to center that chased home Robinson and opened up a 9-4 lead.
As Albuquerque baseball fans are well aware, not even a five run lead is safe at a hitter-haven like Isotopes Park and the Storm Chasers nearly proved the point in the ninth. Mike Moustakas led off the inning with a single before Robinson drew a walk and Lorenzo Cain was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Irving Falu, who tapped a dribbler in front of the plate that Ellis pounced on and threw to first as Moustakas streaked home, making the score 9-5 âTopes. Lance Zawadzki then added a two-run single, scoring Robinson and Cain to bring the visitors within 9-7. After a fielder's choice and yet another walk, David Lough smacked a run-scoring single to trim the lead to 9-8.
Reliever Merkin Valdez (2) would make sure that's where the bleeding stopped, however, getting Giavotella to ground into a game-ending fielder's choice at short to preserve the 9-8 victory.
âTopes relief pitcher Travis Schlichting (1-1) got the win after two innings of scoreless relief while Omaha relief man Luis Mendoza (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing the five Albuquerque runs in the seventh.
The Isotopes will now welcome the Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, to Isotopes Park on Friday for a 7:05 PM match-up that features right-hander Francisco Felix (1-0, 4.15) taking the hill for Albuquerque against Redbirds righty Brandon Dickson (1-2, 2.76).
The âTopes' continue their massive eight-game homestand that features wall-to-wall promotions, including BBoy McCoy's first appearance at Isotopes Park, post-game fireworks, and a Mother's Day extravaganza that includes a pre-game celebrity softball game, a carnation giveaway to the first 1,000 moms, and the team's first ever Bark In the Park. 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.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2011
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- Tacoma wins over Tucson - Tucson Padres
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- Reno Drops Third-straight, 5-3, To Las Vegas - Reno Aces
- 'Topes Rally and Hold on to 9-8 Win - Albuquerque Isotopes
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