PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Ely Tosses Complete Game Gem as 'Topes Win 3-1

Published on May 22, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


John Ely fired a nine-inning complete game, allowing just one run three hits to lead the Albuquerque Isotopes (24-18) to a 3-1 win over the Reno Aces (26-18) on a spectacular Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park. Ely's gem is just the 10th nine-inning complete game thrown at Isotopes Park in team history and the first nine-inning complete game of the right-hander's career.

Ely (2-1) was dominant from the very outset, retiring the first eight batters he faced and 15 of the last 16 batters to end the game. From the fifth to the ninth, he retired 14 batters in a row to record one of most complete pitching performances in Isotopes team history. When it was all said and done, Ely had allowed just one run on three hits while walking one and striking out seven. The right-hander threw 107 pitches on the afternoon, 71 of them for strikes. Combined with his seven-inning one-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader at Iowa on April 20, both of Ely's wins on the year have been complete game victories.

Reno starter Barry Enright was equal to Ely's task, trading zeros with the ‚¬ËœTopes starter until the fourth when Albuquerque finally broke through. Dee Gordon led off the inning with a triple and was immediately plated by a sacrifice fly from Ivan De Jesus Jr. to give the ‚¬ËœTopes a 1-0 edge. Eugenio Velez then smashed a solo homer to right, immediately doubling the advantage to 2-0 Albuquerque.

Ely's only mistake the entire game came in the top of the fifth, when Cody Ransom launched a solo homer leading off the fifth to trim the lead 2-1 Isotopes. That's as where Ely decided to slam the door, however, retiring the next 14 batters in a row after the home run to effectively douse any hopes of an Aces comeback.

Although they didn't need it, the Isotopes manufactured one more insurance run in the eighth. Gordon led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a perfect sacrifice by De Jesus, scampered into third on fly-out by Velez, and scored on single by Trent Oeltjen to make the score 3-1 Albuquerque and send Ely comfortably to the victory.

After the contest, the Isotopes took part in an autograph session that drew over 700 season ticket holders, the largest such event the Isotopes have ever held.

Satisfied with a series win over the Reno Aces, the Isotopes will now welcome the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, to Isotopes Park for a four-game set. Right-hander Tim Sexton (0-0, No ERA) will make his Triple-A debut on the mound for Albuquerque against veteran Sky Sox lefty Josh Muecke (2-3, 5.93) in a 6:35 PM start from Isotopes Park.

The ‚¬ËœTopes continue their big homestand on Monday, when the team will host its second 50-Cent Hot Dog night of the season.

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 22, 2011


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