PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Gibbons Give 'Topes 7-6 Walk-Off Win

Published on April 14, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Jay Gibbons stroked his fourth hit of the night for a walk-off, two-out single in the bottom of the ninth sending the Albuquerque Isotopes (4-3) to a 7-6 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs (4-3) Wednesday night at Isotopes Park. In a game that looked eerily similar to Tuesday night's loss, Gibbons finished with four hits and five RBI, leading the Isotopes at the dish, most notably in the clutch.

For the second straight night, the Isotopes overcame a three-run deficit with four runs in the eighth inning only to have New Orleans respond in the top of the ninth, this time knotting it all up at 6-6 as the ‘Topes' come-from-behind moxie was quickly dispelled.

Fortunately, Gibbons, who blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning to cap the ‘Topes' first resurgence, was poised to do the same in the ninth, smacking a single to right field to plate Chin-lung Hu and give Albuquerque the walk-off.

Entering the ninth inning, Isotopes pitchers had retired 12 straight, including striking out six of the final 10. Travis Schlichting piloted the pitching brilliance, retiring all nine batters he faced with four punchouts over his three innings of work and Tim Corcoran followed suit, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth while fanning two. Schlichting relieved starter Scott Elbert, who surrendered three runs in the top of the fifth with no outs, giving New Orleans a 5-2 advantage.

With the bullpen working wonders from the fifth to the eighth, Albuquerque's offense took a cue, capturing the lead in the bottom half of the eighth. Xavier Paul delivered an RBI single to plate Hu before Gibbons mashed the second pitch of his at-bat to left field to give Albuquerque a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth.

Unlike the relievers before him, Jon Link (1-1) ran into instant trouble, as Brett Hayes rocketed just his third hit of the season to left field for a leadoff double. After Alejandro Machado sacrificed Hayes to third, Logan Morrison stroked a pinch-hit single to right center to create the 6-6 deadlock. Link limited further damage by coaxing a fly-out and a ground-out to escape the inning.

Elbert was decent through his first four innings, allowing two runs with four strikeouts before the Z's rattled off three runs in the fifth. Albuquerque and New Orleans held a 2-2 entering the frame with their early runs coming off a Nick Green solo shot in the first and an RBI double from Gibbons in the third.

Albuquerque and New Orleans wrap up the series with an afternoon matinee tomorrow as right-handed prospect Josh Lindblom (0-0, 9.00) faces right-hander Brian Lawrence (0-1, 3.60) in a 12:05 matchup at The Lab.

The ‘Topes continue their home opening series against the New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, on Thursday with the season's first School Day Matinee. Also on tap for the homestand are T-Shirt and Pink Water Bottle giveaways. 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 April 14, 2010


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