Gray Leads Isotopes Past Express 5-1 in Series Opener
May 21, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
NEED TO KNOW: Albuquerque Isotopes (17-24) right-handed pitcher Jon Gray dominated the Round Rock Express (25-14) for nearly seven innings as the Isotopes cruised to a 5-1 win at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX. Gray allowed just one unearned run through his 6.2 innings of work.
THE TURNING POINT: The key to Jon Gray's starts all season has been limiting first inning runs, and he managed to work around trouble in the opening frame Thursday night. He was spotted a two-run cushion thanks to a Ryan Casteel RBI single in the top of the first. After opening the bottom half of the frame with a strikeout, Gray walked Tomas Tellis on five pitches and Josh Hamilton doubled to put runners on second and third with just one out. The 23-year-old righty then induced back-to-back groundouts to strand a pair of runners and keep Round Rock off the board in the first.
50 SHADES OF GRAY: Right-hander Jon Gray turned in his best outing of the season Thursday night, tossing 6.2 innings without allowing an earned run. In fact, he allowed just one hit his first time through the Express order, a one-out double to a rehabbing Josh Hamilton. Gray scattered six hits overall and one unearned run on the night, while striking out three against just one walk. 69 of his 99 pitches were strikes.
MR. McBRIDE: The hottest Isotopes hitter of late has been first baseman Matt McBride, and he continued his good work on Thursday. He turned in a 2-for-4 evening with a double and two runs scored. He now has eight straight multi-hit games. During that stretch, McBride is batting .563 (18-for-32) with 12 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, six RBI and a walk. He also has hits in 12 of his last 13 games overall. HERE'S THE DEAL, CASTEEL: Catcher Ryan Casteel extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games with a first inning RBI single and matched the longest hitting streak by an Isotope this season. After finishing the game 1-for-4 with two RBI, the backstop in now batting .500 (19-for-38) with seven runs scored, four doubles, a triple, a homer, 10 RBI and a walk during that stretch.
PARKER PARKED IT: Left fielder Kyle Parker has been heating up over the last week and continued his solid work Thursday night. He turned in a 2-for-4 game with an RBI and extended his hitting streak to nine games. During his run, Parker is batting .389 (14-for-36) with two doubles, two homers, and five RBI.
ON DECK: The Isotopes and Express will play game two of their four-game series Friday night at 6:05 p.m. Left-hander John Lannan (1-1, 4.70) is scheduled to start for Albuquerque, while Round Rock will send right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (3-4, 4.10) to the hill.
IN THE HOLE: The Isotopes will continue this eight-game road trip with stops in Round Rock to face the Express and New Orleans to face the Zephyrs. Albuquerque returns home on May 29 for an eight-game homestand against the Omaha Storm Chasers and Iowa Cubs.
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