Colorado Springs sloshes Isotopes 8-6
August 7, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
The Albuquerque Isotopes (56-60) mounted a furious two-out ninth inning comeback that just fell short as the Colorado Spring Sky Sox (53-64) held on for the 8-6 win in another rain drenched contest Monday night at Security Service Field. Outfielder Eric Reed extended his hitting streak to a team and career high 14 games with a triple in the third.
Trailing 8-4 and down to their final out in the ninth, Mike Kinkade singled to give the âTopes life. Jason Wood then followed with a single of his own before Chris Aguila recorded a base hit that scored Kinkade to bring Albuquerque to within three at 8-5. Former Sky Sox player Tom Wilson then added another single to chase home Wood to make the score 8-6. Edgar Gonzalez, the seventh batter of the frame, drew a walk to load the bases, but Colorado Springs reliever David Cortes struck out Chris Ashby to end the game.
The ninth-inning near comeback was a microcosm of how Albuquerque kept fighting back throughout the contest. After spotting the Sox a 4-0 lead in the very first inning on a solo homer by Kaz Matsui and a three-run bomb by Jeff Baker, the âTopes got on the board when Reed roped a triple to right center with two outs in the third before trotting home on an RBI single by Robert Andino to put the Isotopes on the board 4-1. Reed's three-bagger extended his hitting streak to 14 games, longest by an Isotope hitter this season and tied a career long for the outfielder set in 2001.
Albuquerque added another run in the fourth on an RBI double by Ashby to cut the advantage to 4-2 before Gonzalez plated Aguila with a run scoring single in the sixth to cut the Sky Sox lead to just one at 4-3.
As the rain, which began in the fourth inning and only increased in intensity as the game progressed, worsened, the contest got wilder as Colorado Springs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh when the ball slipped out of Andino's hand as he was attempting to throw to first on a tailor-made double play ball off of the bat of Ryan Spilborghs that allowed Jeff Salazar to score from second. Carlos Rivera then plated Matsui on an RBI fielder's choice to give the home team a 6-3 lead.
Once again, the âTopes came back, as Wilson reached on a fielder's choice in the eighth, advanced to third on a wild throw from third baseman Tommy Whiteman on a ground ball by Gonzalez, and scored on a wild pitch to bring Albuquerque back to within two at 6-4. Colorado Springs would add two more insurance runs in the home half of the eighth, however, on an RBI single by former âTope Josh Wilson and a run-scoring double by Spilborghs to take an 8-4 lead heading into the ninth.
The Isotopes will attempt to dry off and break their two game losing streak tomorrow behind Jeff Fulchino (3-9, 4.58) who will face Sox righty Mike Esposito (5-10, 6.75) in a 7:05 PM scheduled first pitch but with more rain in the forecast.
After a couple more games in soggy Colorado Springs, the âTopes return home on August 11 for four games against the Nashville Sounds that will include the Isotopes' special Back To School Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular on August 13, a bonus pyrotechnics display that will bring the total number of fireworks shows at Isotopes Park to a whopping 12. Tickets can be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, www.albuquerquebaseball.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please call (505) 924-2255.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 7, 2006
- Bocachica walk-off blast give Cats comeback win - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds lose heartbreaker in bottom of ninth - Nashville Sounds
- Colorado Springs sloshes Isotopes 8-6 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sidewinders blanked by Tejeda, Redhawks - Tucson Sidewinders
- Las Vegas shuts out Z's - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Three-run fourth inning lifts Cubs over Beavers - Portland Beavers
- RedHawks throw fourth shutout in five games - Oklahoma City Comets
- Grizzlies to give out $2,000 cash Tuesday - Fresno Grizzlies
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Pacific Coast League names players of the week - PCL1
- Royals game notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sox slide past 'Topes, 2-1 - Albuquerque Isotopes
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