Howard, Little Lead Isotopes' Rout of Royals
May 28, 2005 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
Ben Howard was brilliant in an emergency start and Mark Little hammered a pair of home runs as the Albuquerque Isotopes (28-22) powered past the Omaha Royals (22-28) in a 8-3 victory Saturday night at Isotopes Park. The first-place âTopes have won three straight games and 13 of their last 17 contests.
Howard (1-0), who got the nod after the Isotopes' scheduled starter Travis Smith was recalled by the Florida Marlins late Friday night, picked up his first win of the season in his first start of the year. The right hander scattered three hits over five shutout innings in his longest outing of 2005. Little hit his 13th home run of the season with one out in the third inning off Omaha starter Ryan Baerlocher (0-1) to give the Isotopes a 1-0 lead and hit his 14th round-tripper â a three-run shot â in the seventh inning to push Albuquerque's lead to 6-1. It was Little's third multiple-home run performance of the season. The veteran tied a franchise record with three home runs against Iowa on April 9 and left the yard twice in a game against Portland on May 10.
Jason Wood pushed Albuquerque's lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning with an infield single that brought home Matt Padgett. Chris Truby scored a run for Omaha in the sixth inning on a ground out by Paul Phillips, but the âTopes came right back in the home half when Padgett lifted a ball well over the fence in left field to make it 3-1. Highlighted by Little's second homer of the contest, the Isotopes scored five times in the seventh inning to blow the game open.
Albuquerque improved to 5-1 against Omaha at Isotopes Park this season and 7-3 against the Royals overall in 2005. Josh Willingham, who had homered in four consecutive contests prior to Saturday night's game, failed to leave the yard but collected a pair of hits, nonetheless.
Albuquerque will continue its eight-game homestand with the third game of a four-game series against the Omaha Royals Sunday night at 6:05. Left-handed pitcher Les Walrond (2-2, 4.58) is slated to start for Albuquerque against Omaha lefty Jimmy Gobble (1-5, 7.61). The first 2,000 fans through the gate will receive a photo card that they can get signed by select Isotopes players from 5-5:30 p.m. All fans are encouraged to bid on game-worn, camouflage Isotopes jerseys and to stay late for a post-game fireworks extravaganza. Tickets are available at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at local Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, and Ticketmaster by phone at 883-7800.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 28, 2005
- Howard, Little Lead Isotopes' Rout of Royals - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Express Drop Second Straight to Iowa - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Trounce Zephyrs Again, 13-8 - Nashville Sounds
- Rain washes out Sidewinders, double header slated for Sunday - Tucson Sidewinders
- RedHawks Down Redbirds 5-4 - Memphis Redbirds
- Tacoma rains on Grizzlies parade with 8-2 victory - Fresno Grizzlies
- RedHawks open trip with extra-inning loss - Oklahoma City Comets
- River Cats Sting Salt Lake in Bottom of Ninth - Sacramento River Cats
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