PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Ely Electric as 'Topes Win Third Straight, 4-3

Published on April 19, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (7-8) got a strong performance from starter John Ely and a clutch pinch-hit from Joe Becker to edge the Iowa Cubs (7-8) 4-3 Thursday night at Isotopes Park. The "˜Topes have now won a season-high three straight games in a row and have claimed their first series win of the 2012 campaign.

With the score knotted at 3-3 heading into the seventh, the 'Topes began their seventh-inning rally with a Jeff Baisley single to shallow left field. The first baseman then advanced to second when Josh Bard slapped a single to center, putting the go-ahead runner in scoring position with just one out. Albuquerque then sent pinch-hitter Becker to the plate, who promptly ripped a single to right-center to give the Isotopes a one run lead, 4-3.

One run was good enough for the Isotopes' bullpen, as Wil Ledezma pitched a one-two-three eighth before giving way to closer Josh Wall (4), who finished off the Cubs with a perfect ninth, capped off by a sensational stab of a liner off the bat of Dave Sappelt to finish off the 4-3 win and his fourth save of the season.

Iowa jumped on the board with two runs in the first inning on a two-run homer by Anthony Rizzo, but the Isotopes answered with two in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Josh Fields and an RBI double by Josh Bard to lock the contest up at 2-2.

Rizzo, who now leads the PCL with seven homers on the young year, put the I-Cubs back on top with a monstrous solo homer in the fourth, but that was the extent of the Iowa damage. Ely (1-1) allowed just the three runs on six hits in seven strong innings while walking two and striking out six, recording his first victory of 2012 in his second strong outing in as many starts.

Albuquerque made sure to pick up its starter in the sixth, when Trent Oeltjen laced a one-out double to left and immediately scored on an RBI single by Jerry Sands to tie the game up again by the score of 3-3.

The 'Topes will look to sweep the series against the Cubs on Friday, with right-hander Mike Parisi (0-0, 3.60) set to duel Iowa's righty Randy Wells (1-0, 9.42) in a Friday Fiesta beginning at 7:05 PM at Isotopes Park.

Albuquerque's opening homestand concludes Friday night with the last contest of the eight-game homestand against the Iowa Cubs. 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 online at www.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2012


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