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PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Disastrous Ninth Dooms 'Topes in 15-6 Setback

May 25, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (25-19) carried a one run lead into the ninth only to watch it disappear and then some as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (19-27) scored 10 times in the ninth to coast to a 15-6 win Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. The 10-run frame ties a franchise mark for most runs allowed in a single inning set on two occasions back in 2008.

With the ‚¬ËœTopes clinging to a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth inning, Merkin Valdez took the hill looking for a save in back-to-back nights and immediately allowed a single, a hit-by-pitch and a one-out RBI double that tied the game at six apiece. That signaled the opening of the flood gates as the next five Sky Sox proceeded to reach base on Valdez, with a two-run double by Willy Taveras and a two-run single by Matt Pagnozzi proving to be the most devastating blows. With one on, one out and seven runs already in, Valdez was replaced by reliever Adam Dedeaux, who made his Triple-A debut by surrendering a single before giving up a three-run homer to Charlie Blackmon that capped the 10-run frame and gave Colorado Springs a 15-6 lead. When the frame finally came to an end, the Sky Sox sent 13 men to the plate and collected eight hits, as many as they had racked up in the eight previous innings combined.

The way the game started, it appeared it would be rout in the opposite direction as the Isotopes erupted out of the gate with four runs in the first inning. After back-to-back walks to Dee Gordon and Casey Blake, Trent Oeltjen roped a single left, easily scoring Gordon and giving Albuquerque a 1-0 edge. J.D. Closser then smashed a towering three-run homer that reached the top of the berm in right field to put the home team on top 4-0. In the second game of his Major League rehab, Blake went 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks, and a third inning double to left.

Colorado Springs would chip away with two runs in the third and another in the fourth to draw within 4-3, but Albuquerque continued to find a way to keep the visitors at arms-length when Gordon roped an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 5-3 Isotopes.

After A.J. Ellis reached on a single to center and scampered into second on a wild pitch, pinch-hitter John Lindsey made it a three-run contest in the sixth with an RBI double that helped the ‚¬ËœTopes seize a 6-3 advantage.

It would prove painfully fleeting, however, as Colorado Springs scored twice in the seventh to make the score 6-5 and set up the run deluge that was the ninth.

Albuquerque will look to bounce back on Wednesday behind right-hander Tim Redding (1-4, 6.43) who will make the start against Colorado Springs right-hander Alan Johnson (1-2. 6.90). First pitch is slated for 6:35 PM from Isotopes Park.

The Isotopes homestand continues with two more games against the Sky Sox before wrapping up with the team's annual baseball card set giveaway on Thursday.

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.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 25, 2011


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