PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Outlast Rainiers 4-2 for Series Opening Win

Published on May 9, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (20-13) got a terrific performance from starter Will Savage coupled with a three-run fourth inning to earn a 4-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (11-21) in the opening contest of the four-game series on Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium. The win keeps the Isotopes one and a half games ahead of New Orleans in the PCL American Southern Division.

The righty Savage (6-0) tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and only allowed four hits before yielding two runs in the seventh inning. He retired nine consecutive batters from the first inning to the third on his way to his PCL-leading sixth win of the season.

With the game knotted 0-0 in the fourth inning, Albuquerque got on the board beginning with a Scott Van Slyke single in front of a walk to Josh Fields. Jeff Baisley followed with a walk of his own, advancing Fields and Van Slyke. Fields then scampered home on a Jerry Sands ground out to third base, giving the Isotopes their first lead of the game, 1-0. Luis Cruz continued the Isotopes offensive attack, ripping an RBI single to center to bring in Van Slyke. Justin Sellers, who was optioned to Albuquerque from the Dodgers on Monday, earned his first Triple-A RBI of the season when he lifted a deep sac-fly to right field, scoring Baisley and extending the 'Topes lead, 3-0.

Albuquerque added one more run in the fifth when Fields drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Van Slyke then collected his second hit on the night with a double off the left field wall, driving in Fields and making the score 4-0, Isotopes.

Tacoma showed signs of life in the seventh inning after Vinnie Catricala poked a single to shallow left field. Rainier's catcher Guillermo Quiroz followed with a two-run dinger off Savage to narrow the gap, 4-2.

The two-run lead proved more than enough for 'Topes relief pitcher Josh Wall (8), who collected the third out in the eighth inning before retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth, en route to a 4-2 Isotopes victory.

Albuquerque continues its four-game set in Tacoma tomorrow at 12:35 PM. 'Topes right-hander John Ely (2-2, 4.64) will battle Rainiers righty Forrest Snow (0-3, 7.58) in game two of the series.

The Isotopes continue an eight-game road trip tomorrow against the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, followed by a series against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The team will return home on May 17 for a 12-game homestand, the longest such stretch of the 2012 season that includes the Celebrity Softball Game, Bark in the Park, fireworks and a bobblehead giveaway. 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.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com .

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 9, 2012


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