Back-To-Back Homers Win It For \'Topes In Ten
Published on July 25, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
In consecutive nights the Albuquerque Isotopes (46-59) used a single swing of the bat and walked off with a 9-8 triumph over the Sacramento River Cats (60-45) in ten innings Thursday night at Isotopes Park. Dallas McPherson's recent power surge has been unrelenting at The Lab, as the slugger homered in the seventh to set a new franchise record with 35 long balls in a season, eclipsing a mark set last year by Valentino Pascucci.
Down by a run in the tenth, Tagg Bozied led off the inning by crushing a solo blast off the scoreboard in left center to tie the game up at eight. Not to be outdone, Jai Miller followed with a monstrous walk-off solo shot that sailed out of the stadium and into a nearby parking lot for the come from behind, walk-off 9-8 victory.
Landon Powell led the second inning off for the River Cats with a single to left field advanced to second after a Donnie Murphy walk. With two men on, Joe Gaetti crushed a three-run homer over the left-center field wall that gave Sacramento the early 3-0 advantage. Cliff Pennington extended the inning with a one out single to left and immediately stole second, setting up Gregorio Petit who drew a walk. With two men on again, Eric Patterson doubled to left plating Pennington for a four run lead while Petit sprinted to third. Chris Denorfia hit a sacrifice fly to left that was deep enough to score Pennington and give the River Cats a five-run inning, 5-0.
The Isotopes began to scratch back at the five run deficit in the third inning when Alberto Concepcion hit a one out single up the middle for Brett Hayes, who laced a single into shallow left field. A groundout advanced Concepcion and Hayes into scoring position for Manny Mayorson, whose line-drive double to left-center field cleared the bases and brought the Isotopes within three, 5-2.
Denorfia extended Sacramento's lead in the fifth after he cracked a solo blast over the left field fence for the four-run River Cats lead, 6-2.
Hayes led off the fifth for the âTopes by reaching on a fielding error by Donnie Murphy at third and advanced to second after the catcher Powell's errant throw after picking up a Tommy Murphy sacrifice bunt allowed both runners to reach safely. Mayorson continued the inning with a single to right-center field that scored Hayes and cut the River Cats lead in half, 6-3, while Murphy safely reached third. Chase Lambin cracked a sacrifice fly to left that allowed Murphy to safely sprint home for Albuquerque's fourth run, 6-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Concepcion crushed the first pitch he saw for a one out solo home run over the left field fence as the Isotopes continued to chip away at the River Cats lead and draw within one, 6-5.
Lambin laced a single to right to set up McPherson, who smashed a two-run homer over the right-center field wall that gave the Isotopes their first lead, 7-6.
Sacramento came back, however, when Pennington earned a two out walk in the eighth and then Petit followed with an infield single. Patterson walked to load the bases for Denorfia, who hit into a fielder's choice on an extremely questionable call when Petit was inexplicably called safe after a toss to second by Mayorson, which allowed Pennington to score and tie the game up at seven.
In the top of the tenth, Pennington drew a one out walk only to sprint to third after Petit singled to right field. Patterson added a single to left that plated Pennington for the short lived one run lead, 8-7.
Albuquerque looks to complete their first series sweep at home this season Friday night, as the Isotopes will send right hander Bobby Keppel (7-10, 6.16) to the mound against Sacramento righty Dan Meyer (9-5, 4.75) at Isotopes Park, first pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
Albuquerque's first homestand after the All-Star Break rolls on with an exciting post-game fireworks show on Friday followed by a Zooperstars! appearance on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at Isotopes Park or any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or Ticketmaster by phone 505-883-7800. For more information, visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com or call 505-924-2255.
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