PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Express hold off Isotopes 6-4

Published on May 3, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (10-13) mounted a furious rally, plating three runs in the ninth inning against the Round Rock Express (10-14) but it wasn't enough as the Express held on for the 6-4 win on an otherwise beautiful Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park.

Down 6-1 heading in the bottom of the ninth, the Isotopes started a rally with three straight singles by Xavier Paul, Valentino Pascucci, and Blake DeWitt to load the bases without any outs. Pinch-hitter Danny Ardoin singled to right-center, knocking in Paul and Pascucci to bring the ‘Topes to within 6-3. A sacrifice fly by Sergio Garcia plated DeWitt to make the score 6-4 and a walk to A.J. Ellis put runners on first and second for Dee Brown, who stood at home plate as the potential go ahead run. On the second pitch, Brown blasted a ball to dead center field that was tracked down by Yordany Ramirez just five feet short of the wall for a 400-foot fly-out. Jason Repko then flew out to right to end the game as the Express barely held on to a 6-4 triumph.

Even though the late innings were characterized by offense, a pitching duel ensued at the onset. Isotopes starter Shawn Estes and Express starter Josh Muecke (1-2) battled a 1-1 tie through six innings of work each.

Round Rock struck first, scoring their first tally in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and two out, a pitch from Estes eluded catcher Ellis for a passed ball, allowing Mark Saccomanno to scamper home with the game's first run. That was the only damage inflicted on the Isotopes starter all day, as Estes cruised through his six innings, allowing the one unearned run on four hits while walking two and striking out three. At one point from the third to the sixth, Estes retired 10 straight batters.

Albuquerque answered in the bottom of the third when Repko hammered a home run over the fence in left to knot the game at 1-1.

The Express would surge ahead on the Isotopes' bullpen, scoring a pair of runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth. Reliever Stephen Randolph entered the game in the seventh and, after issuing a walk to Eli Iorg, surrendered an RBI double to Brian Esposito that gave Round Rock a 2-1 lead. Esposito then advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to increase the advantage to 3-1 Express. Randolph (0-1) would wind up taking the loss after his lone inning of work.

Tommy Manzella started another Round Rock rally in the eighth with a lead-off single off Dwayne Pollok before advancing to second on a single by Saccomanno. After both runners moved up 90 feet on another wild pitch, Pollok intentionally walked Matt Kata, loading the bases with one out. Pollok managed to strike out Chad Spann for the second out, but Iorg delivered a bases-clearing triple to help the Express break the game wide open 6-1, setting up Albuquerque's ninth-inning uprising.

The ‘Topes will travel to Oklahoma City for a quick four-game series against the RedHawks before coming back on Friday, May 8. In tomorrow's game, righty Giancarlo Alvarado (1-2, 3.44 ERA) will square off against Elizardo Ramirez (0-3, 3.98 ERA) in a 3:05 PM MT start from Bricktown Ballpark. .

Albuquerque returns home on May 8 for another great but short homestand against the New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. 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 www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 3, 2009


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