PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Fife Flummoxes Z's in 4-0 'Topes Win

May 30, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Starter Stephen Fife authored six scoreless innings and was backed by some muscle in the form of homers from Luis Cruz and Alex Castellanos, as the Albuquerque Isotopes (31-23) downed the New Orleans Zephyrs (26-27) 4-0 Wednesday night at Zephyr Field. Thanks to the pair of long balls, the Isotopes have now homered in a season-high seven straight games while administering their second shutout of the campaign.

With the "˜Topes needing a quality start, Fife (4-4) delivered a gem, going 6.0 scoreless innings in which he scattered seven hits and yielded one walk while striking out five to earn his fourth win of the season. Combined with 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball in his last start in the Big Easy on April 29, Fife has not allowed a run in 12.0 straight innings at Zephyr Field. Fife worked out of a second-and-third with one out jam in the fourth and a bases-loaded with two out scenario in the fifth to preserve the shutout.

Fife's counterpart Wade LeBlanc was similarly in control, cruising through three scoreless frames until the "˜Topes finally touched him in the top of the fourth. With one down, Cruz smashed a mammoth solo homer over the fence in left-center to give the Isotopes an immediate 1-0 lead.

Albuquerque picked up some insurance in the eighth when Trent Oeltjen drew a one-out walk and was instantly picked up by Castellanos, who hammered a two-run homer to right-center, extending the "˜Topes' lead to 3-0. Josh Fields followed with a single, advanced to third on a base hit by Jeff Baisley, and scored on a sac-fly by Cruz to give the Isotopes a 4-0 edge.

A four-run cushion proved plenty for the "˜Topes bullpen, which made sure the Zephyrs would stay off the scoreboard. Ramon Troncoso needed just nine pitches to work through a perfect seventh before Scott Rice delivered a one-two-three eighth and ninth to secure the 4-0 win.

The Isotopes will look to make it two in a row against the Zephyrs on Thursday with righty John Ely (4-3, 3.58) getting the ball for Albuquerque against New Orleans right-hander Tom Koehler (5-4, 4.14) in a 6:00 PM MT start from Zephyr Field.

After an eight-game road trip against division foes New Orleans, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, and Round Rock, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the "˜Topes are back home on June 7 for a homestand that includes 50-Cent Hot Dog Night, a Skateboard deck giveaway, and fireworks. 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.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com .

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 30, 2012


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