PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Hoffmann Helps Deliver 'Topes 8-7 Walk-off Win

May 1, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Jamie Hoffmann stroked a team-high three hits, including a walk-off single with no outs in the top of the ninth that sent the Albuquerque Isotopes (12-8) to an 8-7 victory over the Round Rock Express (6-15) Friday night at Isotopes Park. The hit capped a back-and-forth final two innings in a dramatic contest that ended up giving the Isotopes their third straight win and their second walk-off win of the year at home.

Albuquerque entered the eighth inning with a slim 5-4 advantage and its pitching dialed in, but Round Rock manufactured two runs off reliever Travis Schlichting to grab the lead. Schlichting surrendered back-to-back singles to open the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, the Express cashed in with a single and a fielder's choice to go ahead 6-5.

With two outs, the ‘Topes countered with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the frame when Lucas May roped his second double of the night to plate Michael Restovich, who walked one batter earlier. Russ Mitchell followed with an RBI single to give the Isotopes the advantage back at 7-6.

Wanting to keep things interesting, Round Rock knotted it all up again at 7-7 with two outs in the ninth. Edwin Maysonet reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a wild pitch from Brent Leach. After Nick Green made a spectacular play at short to keep Maysonet from scoring, Jason Castro, who entered when starting Express catcher Kevin Cash was ejected in the bottom of the eighth, drilled his first extra-base hit of the season to cash in Maysonet.

It would take just two pitches for Albuquerque to secure the walk-off win, however, as Green slashed a triple to right to open the inning. Hoffmann then took the first offering from Gary Majewski to center as the Isotopes made walking off look too easy for an 8-7 triumph.

Until the eighth, Albuquerque pitching had been beyond stellar. While the Express grabbed three runs in the second, the Isotopes batted around in their half of the frame, using five doubles, a franchise-record for two-baggers in an inning, to go ahead 5-3.

From there, starter Scott Elbert and reliever Justin Miller went on a strikeout binge as Elbert struck out the side in the third and then two more in the fourth to retire five of the final eight he faced via a punchout. Miller, who took over in the fifth, added five strikeouts in his two innings of work as the two hurlers combined for 11 of the ‘Topes' 12 strikeouts, fanning 10 of 17 Express batters from the third through the sixth to prelude the walk-off finish.

The Isotopes will look for their fourth straight win and third straight against the Express on Saturday behind right-hander Josh Lindblom (1-1, 5.57) who will face Round Rock lefty Gustavo Chacin (1-1, 1.74) in a 7:05 PM start from Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes continue their four-game set against the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros on Saturday with the first fireworks show of the young season. 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 May 1, 2010


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