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Isotopes Sloppy in 7-6 Loss to Las Vegas

August 2, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL) Albuquerque Isotopes

The Albuquerque Isotopes (64-48) committed four errors, one shy of their season high, and allowed five unearned runs in a 7-6 loss to the Las Vegas 51s (63-48) on Wednesday night at Isotopes Park. The 'Topes have now dropped three straight contests for the first time since June 29-July 2, when Albuquerque lost four games in a row.

The Isotopes grabbed a quick 1-0 lead when Trent Oeltjen roped a leadoff double to right, advanced to third on a bunt single from Elian Herrera and scored on a sac-fly from Alex Castellanos. The Aussie has recently been on a tear at the plate, and with a pair of hits tonight he has now collected knocks in 14 of his last 15 games.

Scott Van Slyke then led off the second with a double to left and, after reaching third on a groundout, scored when Tim Federowicz blasted his first of three doubles on the night, extending the lead 2-0.

Albuquerque would not be able to maintain its lead for long, as Las Vegas strung together a four-run fourth, largely thanks to three Isotopes errors. Danny Perales began the rally with a one-out walk and took third on a single from Mike McDade. With runners on the corners, Mark Sobolewski grounded to Castellanos, who misplayed the ball, allowing Perales to score and make it 2-1. Chris Woodward then poked a two-run single up the middle to plate the runner from second, and the play was extended as Van Slyke bobbled the relay and sent an attempted throw to third sailing into left field. With the ball rolling into left, Sobolewski dashed home to put Las Vegas up 3-2, while Woodward came to rest at third. Ricardo Nanita capped off the big inning with a grounder to first that scored Woodward and widened the advantage 4-2.

In the bottom half of the frame, the 'Topes cut the lead to 4-3 when Matt Angle coaxed a two-out walk, stole second and came home on an RBI double from Federowicz.

Las Vegas would add three more in the sixth, extending its edge to 7-3 on an RBI double from Woodward, a sac-fly from Nanita and an RBI double from Ryan Eigsti.

The Isotopes came storming back in the seventh on a solo shot from Angle that narrowed the deficit 7-4. With Angle's homer, the 'Topes have now left the yard in five of their last six contests. Federowicz then smashed his third double in as many at-bats, advanced to third on a passed ball and came home on a sac-fly from Oeltjen to help Albuquerque climb within 7-5.

Castellanos brought Albuquerque within one in the eighth, smashing a solo dinger to right that made it 7-6, but 51s reliever Jerry Gil came on in the ninth and retired three of the first four batters to slam the door on the Isotopes and preserve a 7-6 Las Vegas win.

The 'Topes and 51s will square off tomorrow in the second contest of their four-game set. Albuquerque's right-handed ace John Ely (10-7, 3.32) will get the ball against Las Vegas righty Shawn Hill (6-0, 3.96) with first pitch slated for 7:05 PM.

The Isotopes huge homestand rolls on with a cowbell giveaway tomorrow night, a live performance by the Zooperstars on Friday and fireworks on Saturday! 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 August 2, 2012


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