De Jesus, Jr. Delivers In 6-5, 10-inning \'Topes Win
August 22, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
Ivan De Jesus Jr. hammered a deep fly ball to left center field in the bottom of the tenth to score Travis Denker in a thrilling 6-5 comeback win for the Albuquerque Isotopes (62-64) over the New Orleans Zephyrs (61-66) Saturday night at Isotopes Park.
With the game knotted at 4-4 in the top of the 10th, Zephyrs outfielder Cameron Maybin hit a solo home run off of Juan Perez to put New Orleans up 5-4. But that only served to get Albuquerque fired up.
Z's closer, and former âTope, Scott Strickland took the mound looking to send Albuquerque to its fourth straight loss but was immediately greeted with back-to-back singles by J.D. Closser and Travis Denker to lead off the bottom of the tenth. Perhaps the most clutch at-bat of the inning, however, came from a pinch-hit appearance by pitcher Josh Lindblom. Lindblom faked a sacrifice bunt, but at the last second pulled his bat up and drilled the pitch up the middle, scoring Closser from second and knotting the game at 5-5. A Mike Rivera bunt advanced the runners into scoring position and Jamie Hoffmann was intentionally walked, loading the bases and setting up the De Jesus Jr's walk-off heroics. The game-winner was one of four knocks for the Albuquerque infielder on the night, tying a season-high.
The âTopes rallied earlier in the game as well. Albuquerque starter Edgar Gonzalez, who made his first start of the season for the Isotopes, was shaky initially, allowing four runs off four hits all in the first inning as New Orleans raced out to a quick 4-0 lead. However, he settled down through the remainder of his six innings of work and the âTopes, thanks also to some help from Ramon Troncoso and Justin Miller, wouldn't allow another run until the Maybin tenth inning bomb.
Despite being in a four-run hole, Albuquerque immediately started digging out in the second when Denker knocked in John Lindsey to trim the lead to 4-1. A Lindsey sacrifice fly in the fifth plating Hoffmann brought the âTopes one-run closer at 4-2.
In the sixth, Justin Sellers added a sac-fly that scored Closser and made it a one-run game before Lindsey knotted the contest at 4-4 apiece with an RBI single in the seventh that plated eventual hero De Jesus Jr.
Perez (3-2) earned the win while Strickland (4-3) suffered his sixth blown save of the save and third against his former team.
The Isotopes will look to build on their dramatic win on Sunday in the second game of a four-game set against the Zephyrs. Right-hander Tim Corcoran (6-8, 6.86) takes the ball for the âTopes against Z's righty Brian Lawrence (10-7, 4.73) in a 6:05 PM start from The Lab.
Albuquerque continues its monster homestand, featuring 14 games in 13 days, on Sunday with free Isotopes hats to the first 3,000 fans courtesy of Mattress Firm. There will also be a pre-game autograph session presented by Cottonwood Printing. 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.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 22, 2010
- Rainiers Top Reno in 10 Innings, 7-5 - Reno Aces
- Isotopes Cruise Past Zephyrs 7-4 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Z's Fall in Albuquerque - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Express Edged by Oklahoma City 4-2 - Round Rock Express
- Grizzlies Win Back and Forth Game, 10-7 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Two Hit-by-Pitches Help Memphis Win - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Angels Recall Walden - Salt Lake Bees
- Sounds Lose Second Straight to I-Cubs, 3-2 - Nashville Sounds
- Iowa Pick up Pair in Fifth for 3-2 Win - Iowa Cubs
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- De Jesus, Jr. Delivers In 6-5, 10-inning âTopes Win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Aces Take Series Opener Over Tacoma, 5-2 - Reno Aces
- Gerut's Return Sparks Beavers In Win Over 51s - Portland Beavers
- Sky Sox Blank Grizzlies, 2-0 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Z's fall in extras - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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