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PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Albuquerque Can't Complete Comeback in Finale

July 4, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY -- Ruben Sosa had three hits, including a two-run single that capped a six-run first inning, and the Oklahoma City Redhawks withstood a furious rally by the Albuquerque Isotopes to hold on for a 10-9 victory on Wednesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Isotopes (48-39) trailed 9-1 after three innings. They scored two runs in the fifth, one in the seventh, two in the eighth and two runs in the ninth inning. They had the tying run at second base, and the go-ahead run at first base, when Chili Buss hit a sharp liner to center that was caught by Che-Hsuan Lin to end the game.

Oklahoma City (46-40) won the game, despite issuing 11 walks and not having a single 1-2-3 inning. The teams combined for 19 runs, 25 hits, 18 walks and 26 left on base in a game that took three hours and 41 minutes to complete.

Topes starting pitcher Blake Johnson didn't make it out of the first inning, giving up seven hits and two walks. He threw 43 pitches before Geison Aguasviva was summoned from the bullpen with the bases loaded and two outs. Jonathan Villar singled home a run, Brandon Laird doubled in a run, Marwin Gonzalez plated a run on a groundout, Carlos Perez singled home a run, and Sosa capped the rally with his two-run single up the middle. The first inning took 38 minutes alone.

The Redhawks tacked on four more runs in the game, three on sacrifice flies and one on an infield single.

Brian Barden, who was 3-for-4 with a walk, started the Topes comeback with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning. Rusty Ryal singled home Barden in the seventh inning. Buss tripled home two runs in the eighth inning to make it 10-6. Buss now has nine triples and 62 RBIs this season.

In the ninth, Redhawks reliever Jason Stoffel walked Barden, Ryal lined out to right, and Espino drew a four-pitch walk. Dee Gordon fouled off three two-strike pitches, then singled to left to load the bases. Herrera singled to right on the first pitch to score a run. Matt Angle hit a grounder to second, where Sosa tried to turn the double play himself. He got the force out at second, but his throw to first base was low and skipped past first baseman Jon Singleton. Two runs scored to make it 10-9.

Alex Castellanos swung at the first pitch, and sent his broken bat and the ball to third base. Castellanos beat the throw from Brandon Laird to keep the Topes alive. On a 1-2 pitch, Buss hit a sinker liner to center field that held up just long enough for Lin to catch for the final out of the game.

The Isotopes remain one game behind Round Rock in the PCL's American Southern division. They return home tomorrow to open a seven-game homestand against the Iowa Cubs and Nashville Sounds. The opening game features Matt Palmer (4-3, 4.10) starting for the Topes against Nick Struck (5-5, 5.94) for the Cubs. First pitch will be at 6:05 MT and can be heard on 610 "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.

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