PCL Albuquerque Isotopes

Four-Run Seventh Leads Isotopes Past River Cats, 7-5

Published on July 17, 2022 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Sacramento, CA - Trailing by two runs heading into the latter part of the game, the Albuquerque Isotopes were undeterred. The visitors plated four runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and then an insurance tally in the eighth as they rallied past the Sacramento River Cats 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at Sutter Health Park.

With the victory, Albuquerque earned a split of the six-game set against the River Cats and enter the four-day midseason break on a two-game winning streak.

Isotopes starter Riley Smith gave up four singles in the bottom of the first inning, including back-to-back two-out RBI hits by Isan Diaz and Austin Dean to give the River Cats (40-50) an early 2-0 lead.

Albuquerque (42-48) immediately fought back and tied the contest in the second. Carlos Pérez led off with a clean single before advancing to third on a double by D.J. Peterson. Taylor Snyder lofted a sacrifice fly for the first run, then Bret Boswell tied it at 2 with an RBI double.

The combo of Diaz and Dean struck again in the fifth as each delivered a two-out RBI single off Nick Kennedy, making it 4-2 in favor of the hosts.

LJ Hatch kick-started the four-run rally in the seventh with a one-out solo homer. Wynton Bernard then reached on an error, stole second base and scored the tying run on a towering triple to right field by Dom Nuñez. The game was barely tied for a minute as Elehuris Montero immediately doubled in Nuñez to give Albuquerque their first lead at 5-4. Montero came across on a two-out single by Peterson to cap the outburst.

Boswell led off the eighth with his second extra-base hit of the day, a towering 408-foot blast to the berm in right, his seventh homer of the season. Albuquerque took a 7-4 lead to the ninth.

The insurance proved valuable because Jason Vosler led off the ninth with a solo homer off Zach Lee, Vosler's third clout of the series for the River Cats. After an out, Isan Diaz doubled to bring up power threat Willie Calhoun off the bench. Calhoun singled to left which put the tying run on base and brought the potential winning run to the plate.

After a visit from pitching coach Frank Gonzales, Lee struck out Ka'ai Tom for the second out. Johnny Pereda then bounced to short where Montes flipped to second for the force, ending the game and securing a split.

Topes Scope:

- Albuquerque won consecutive games on the road for just the fourth time this season, but the second time on this road trip. They claimed the finale at Round Rock last Sunday and won the opener in Sacramento on Tuesday.

- The Isotopes split a series for the seventh time this season and third on the road. Overall, they are 2-7-7 in series.

- The Isotopes and River Cats split a set in Sacramento for the first time since June 17-20, 2017, when each team won a pair of contests.

- Montero is batting .422 (27-for-64) with five doubles, two triples, five homers and 21 RBI over his last 16 games at Triple-A. Albuquerque is 10-1 in the last 11 contests that Montero has played in for them.

- Hatch's homer was his sixth of the season, extending a career-high. Eight of his 11 long balls as a professional have come with the Isotopes since Sept. 6, 2021.

- Peterson has knocked in 16 runs over his last 20 contests. He is batting .358 with seven doubles and four homers during the stretch.

- Albuquerque earned a victory when trailing in the seventh inning or later for the fourth time this year (last: June 28 vs. Sugar Land).

- Coco Montes continued his slump by going 0-for-4 with three punchouts. He is 2-for-his-last-32 with 14 strikeouts.

- Justin Lawrence worked a scoreless eighth, but this was just the second time in 22 Triple-A outings this season in which he did not record a strikeout.

- The Isotopes are 42-48 after 90 games for the second consecutive campaign.

- Lee gave up his first run in his last six outings, but was able to notch his fifth save of the season (and of his professional career).

On Deck: Albuquerque returns to action with a 7:05 p.m. start on Friday at Isotopes Park against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Beach Towels will be given to the first 3,000 fans, Courtesy of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, Injury Lawyers. The night will also feature a post-game fireworks show, weather permitting. Neither the Isotopes or Sugar Land have announced a probable starting pitcher.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 17, 2022


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