PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Albuquerque finishes two games above .500

Published on September 3, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Reggie Abercrombie smashed a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, turning a late one-run deficit into a 9-7 victory for the Albuquerque Isotopes (72-70) over the Oklahoma RedHawks (71-72) in the season finale Monday afternoon at Isotopes Park.

The Isotopes and RedHawks were tied at 6-6 as the game entered the eighth inning. Oklahoma would take a slim lead, though, plating a run in the top half of the eighth for a 7-6 advantage. In the home half of the inning, though, the Isotopes would strike back in a big way. Abercrombie deposited a Mike Bumstead offering deep over the wall in left-center, a no-doubter that put the Isotopes ahead 9-7. Closer Roy Corcoran would come on in the ninth and fire a 1-2-3 inning, picking up his 15th save of the season and preserving an Albuquerque victory on the final day of the regular season.

The win went to Albuquerque reliever Brandon Villafuerte (1-0), who recorded just one out, the final of the eighth inning. Starter Ricky Nolasco worked four innings, allowing five runs on six hits. Nolasco walked two and punched out four. Erasmo Ramirez threw two scoreless frames before Mauro Zarate came on and surrendered two runs on three hits over 1.2 innings. After Zarate's exit, though, Villafuerte and Corcoran kept the RedHawk bats silent.

The loss fell on Bumstead (0-2), who was touched for three runs-all via Abercrombie's eighth-inning blast-over three innings pitched. Oklahoma starter Derek Lee worked five innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits. Lee walked two and punched out two.

In what would amount to a see-saw affair, the RedHawks struck first, posting a run in the first inning to take a quick 1-0 lead. In the second, Albuquerque responded. Scott Seabol hit a lead-off home run, then Andrew Beattie tripled and scored on a ground ball out as the Isotopes jumped ahead 2-1.

After a quiet third, the RedHawks regained their lead, scoring four times in the fourth inning to take a 5-2 advantage. This time, the 'Topes would chip away at the RedHawk lead. Albuquerque scored twice in the fourth, using run-scoring singles for Chris Ashby and Josh Labandeira, then added two more in the next frame on back-to-back RBI doubles for Valentino Pascucci and Beattie to go ahead by a run.

Continuing the back-and-forth theme, Oklahoma would have an answer. The RedHawks scored once in the seven and once in the eighth to take control of a slender 7-6 advantage. In the home half of the eighth, though, Abercrombie changed all that with a screaming three-run bomb that put his club up for the duration.

Labandeira and Beattie each collected three hits in four trips to the plate on Monday afternoon. Eight-of-nine Isotopes starters picked up at least one hit in a 14-hit effort for Albuquerque.

The Isotopes finish the season two games above the .500 mark and in second place in the Pacific Coast League's American Southern Division. The franchise drew 563,686 fans in the 2007 season, an average of 8,053 per date.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from September 3, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central