PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes And Sounds Suspended 3-3 After 11 Innings

Published on July 16, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


After enduring a rain storm that caused the start of the game to be delayed for nearly two and a half hours, and after being held to just one hit through seven innings, the Albuquerque Isotopes (47-45) mounted a furious rally in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the Nashville Sounds (43-49) at 3-3, where it stayed deadlocked through 11 frames. Due to Pacific Coast League curfew rules that stipulate no inning can start after 12:50 AM local time, Friday's game at Greer Stadium was suspended after 11 innings and will be completed on Saturday afternoon at 4:45 PM MT. After the conclusion of the suspended game, the Isotopes and Sounds will play a regularly scheduled nine-inning contest.

Albuquerque was able to muster just one hit through the first seven innings of the contest, and trailed 3-0 before finally coming to life in the eighth. Damaso Espino, who had the ‘Topes only hit of the night thus far, a third-inning single, ignited Albuquerque with a lead-off single in front of pinch-hitter Jamie Hoffmann, who added a single of his own. With two on, Dee Gordon dropped a bunt down intending to sacrifice but ended up beating the throw to first, loading the bases full of ‘Topes with no outs. After a fly-out to shallow center, Jay Gibbons laced a single to right that plated Espino and put Albuquerque on the board 3-1. As Hoffmann chugged around third trying to score as well on the play, Sounds right fielder Brandon Boggs fired a perfect strike to catcher Wil Nieves, who applied a tag and cut down the runner at the plate, preserving the two-run Nashville advantage.

The Sounds escaped the eighth without further damage, but couldn't evade the surging ‘Topes in the ninth. Trayvon Robinson started the frame with a single in front of a walk to Russ Mitchell. Justin Sellers then sacrificed both runners into scoring position for the night's hero, Espino, who delivered a two-run single, his third knock of the night, that plated both base runners and knotted the contest at 3-3.

That's where it would stay as both bullpens authored scoreless 10th and 11th innings before the contest was suspended at 12:53 AM local time.

The strange and sudden ending of the night proved an actual perfect complement to a bizarre beginning, as both teams were in their respective dugouts ready to start the game at its scheduled 7:05 PM local time when a cloud burst suddenly opened up, causing the game to be delayed two hours and 13 minutes.

When play finally began, the Sounds plated three quick runs, two on a single by Taylor Green and one more on an RBI groundout by Mat Gamel, to take an immediate 3-0 edge.

Albuquerque's pitchers slammed the door on the Sounds after that, however, delivering 10 straight innings of scoreless baseball to allow the Isotopes to tie the game and send it into extra-innings.

Thirty minutes after the completion of the suspended contest, Albuquerque will send All-Star lefty Dana Eveland (8-5, 3.77) to the mound to face Nashville left-hander Sam Narron (4-3, 3.83) in a nine-inning affair from Greer Stadium.

The Isotopes return home next Monday for an eight-game homestand against division rivals Oklahoma City and New Orleans that is highlighted by Dukes Retro Night and an annual Orbit bobble giveaway. 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.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 16, 2011


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