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Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Clawed By Cats, 7-3

August 16, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Despite being held to one hit through five innings, the Albuquerque Isotopes (63-61) mounted a late comeback, but the Sacramento River Cats (72-52) surged ahead with a pair of late runs to cruise to a 7-3 win Tuesday night at Raley Field. Brad Coon led the ‘Topes' attack with three of his team's six total hits in the losing effort.

The contest started ominously for Albuquerque, as the River Cats plated four runs in the bottom of the first while literally knocking out the Isotopes starting pitcher. Jermaine Mitchell led off the game with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Adrian Cardenas, who advanced into second on the throw back into the infield. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, starter Joe Newby unleashed a wild pitch and as he was covering the plate, collided with Mitchell, who scored the game's first run. After a walk and an RBI groundout, Chris Carter smashed an RBI double to left giving Sacramento a 3-0 lead. Carter's hit spelled the end of the night for Newby, who left with an injured leg sustained on the play at the plate on the wild pitch. With Newby's premature exit, Francisco Felix was thrust into emergency relief duty, and after a strikeout, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk, surrendered a single to Adam Rosales that scored Carter, but as Andy LaRoche attempted to score from second base, left-fielder Jerry Sands delivered a perfect throw to catcher Tim Federowicz that cut down the runner and ended the River Cats threat with the home team holding a 4-0 lead after one.

Felix allowed another run to the Cats in the second on an RBI groundout that put Sacramento up 5-0, but after that, the right-hander was excellent, allowing one run on four hits in 4.2 innings while walking three and striking out four.

Meanwhile, Cats starter Graham Godfrey was superb, allowing just one hit, a single by Coon in the first, through the first five innings before the ‘Topes broke through in the sixth. Joe Becker led off the inning with a single and was immediately picked up by a triple to right by Coon, cutting the Sacramento lead to 5-1. Ivan De Jesus Jr. then roped a single up the middle, plating Coon and cutting the home team's lead to 5-2.

The Cats added some insurance in the eighth on an RBI single by Cardenas and a run-scoring groundout by Kevin Kouzmanoff before the Isotopes mounted one last desperate comeback in the ninth. With the bases empty and two outs, Jamie Hoffmann extended his hitting streak to a season-high 14 games with a solo homer to left, pulling Albuquerque to within the 7-3 final margin.

Godfrey (12-3) ended up with the win, tying him with ‘Topes starter Dana Eveland for the PCL lead, while the injured Newby (2-6) took the loss and Jordan Noberto (2) got the save.

The Isotopes continue their four-game set in Sacramento with lefty Alberto Bastardo (3-1, 5.43) making the start for the ‘Topes against River Cats left-hander Josh Outman (7-3, 3.95) in a 1:05 PM MT matinee from Raley Field. All the action can be caught on 1050-AM KTBL.

Albuquerque returns home this Saturday for a big, nine-game homestand that includes Cowbell Night, a Birdzerk! Appearance, 50-Cent Hot Dog Night, and ends with back-to-back Fan Appreciations fireworks nights! 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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