PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Ely Flirts with No-Hitter in 'Topes Doubleheader Split

Published on April 20, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Right-hander John Ely took a no-hitter almost as far as you can take one, tossing 6.2 hitless innings in a seven-inning contest before yielding a two-out double and having to settle for a one-hit shutout as the Albuquerque Isotopes (8-5) split a doubleheader with the Iowa Cubs (7-6) 1-3, 3-0 on a frigid Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. Ely came one out away from becoming the first Isotope in team history and just the seventh pitcher in the 38-year history of Triple-A baseball in Albuquerque to toss a no-no.

With Ely on the cusp of history entering the bottom of the seventh of the second game, the right-hander started the frame by striking out Bryan LaHair before fanning the always dangerous Bobby Scales to force Iowa down to its last batter. Marquez Smith then stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw from Ely down the left field line, breaking up the no-hitter. Undeterred, Ely then coaxed Matt Camp into a groundout, preserving the one-hit shutout and the 3-0 Isotopes win. Ely's is the eighth one-hitter spun by Isotopes pitchers in team history but the right-hander becomes just the third ‚¬ËœTopes hurler to do it by himself, the last coming on August 2, 2009, when Charlie Haeger one-hit in the Nashville Sounds in the first game of a doubleheader at Greer Stadium.

Albuquerque built Ely a lead in the fourth when Justin Sellers led off the frame with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Trent Oeltjen, and scored when Corey Smith roped a double to right, giving the Isotopes a 1-0 lead.

The advantage was bolstered in the fifth, when Wilberto Ortiz was hit by a pitch leading off the frame in front of the red-hot Trayvon Robinson, who smashed a two-out, two-run homer to right, extending the lead to 3-0 and paving the way for Ely's win.

It ended up being a complete day off for the Isotopes bullpen, as starter Dana Eveland went the route in the first game, giving up three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out eight in six innings, becoming the first Isotopes pitcher to throw a complete game in 2011, even though it came in a losing effort.

After Iowa grabbed a 1-0 lead on Eveland in the fourth, Albuquerque knotted the contest in the fifth Dee Gordon lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Russ Mitchell from third and tying the game at 1-1.

The Cubs stormed back in the bottom of the fifth, however, when Tony Campana scorched a two-out double and was immediately picked up by a triple from Lou Montanez, giving Iowa a 2-1 edge Scales finished the scoring flourish with a double of his own, plating Montanez and sending Iowa to a 3-1 game one victory.

The Isotopes will continue their set with the I-Cubs on Thursday with lefty Randy Keisler (0-1, 8.31) taking the ball for Albuquerque against Iowa right-hander Jay Jackson (0-0, No ERA) in a 5:35 PM start from Principal Park.

After their series in Des Moines, the Isotopes are back home this Saturday for an Easter weekend full of great promotions including the first post-game fireworks show of the season on Saturday and a pre-game Easter Sunday candy hunt presented by PEEPS.

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.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 20, 2011


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