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PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Confounded by Cubs in 5-1 Loss

April 11, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - On a chilly retro night in Iowa the Albuquerque Isotopes (2-5) went cold, as the Iowa Cubs (4-3) held the vaunted "˜Topes attack to just a single run in a 5-1 I-Cubs win Wednesday night at Principal Park. Both teams sported retro jerseys, with the Isotopes wearing their yellow Dukes togs and the I-Cubs donning the uniforms of the old Iowa Oaks.

Moments before the game, the Isotopes were told to hold back scheduled starter Michael Antonini, pressing into service utility pitcher Francisco Felix, who started and quickly found trouble in the second inning. After singles by Welington Castillo and Josh Vitters, pitcher Casey Coleman slapped a single to left, scoring Castillo and giving Iowa a quick 1-0 edge. Tony Campana kept the two-out rally rolling with a single to center, scoring Vitters and increasing the advantage to 2-0.

The Cubs struck again in the third when Castillo crushed a mammoth solo home run to left, making the score 3-0 Iowa. Adrian Cardenas followed with a triple down the right field line and immediately scored on a sacrifice fly by Vitters to put Iowa on top 4-0.

Albuquerque finally got on the board in the fourth in a rally ignited by a lead-off walk to Matt Angle, who advanced to third on a ground-rule double by Alex Castellanos, and scored on an RBI groundout by Jeff Baisley to trim the lead to 4-1. Castellanos had three hits on the night, including a second double in the eighth, giving the young infielder seven extra-base hits on the young season.

The "˜Topes had a golden opportunity to get right back into the game in the sixth in a promising rally that ended up all for naught. Angle led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a bloop single by Castellanos. Trent Oeltjen was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases full of Isotopes with nobody out. Albuquerque was unable to take advantage, however, as Cubs reliever Aaron Rowland-Smith coaxed a fly-out, a pop-out, and a strikeout to end the inning completely unscathed.

Meanwhile, Antonini was cleared to play in the fourth and pitched well, allowing just one run on four hits in five innings while walking two and striking out four. Antonini's only blemish came in the seventh, when Castillo doubled, finishing a triple short of the cycle, and was cashed in by a single by Vitters to add an insurance run and send Iowa cruising to a 5-1 triumph.

The "˜Topes will wrap up their four-game series in Iowa on Thursday with matinee action beginning at 11:05 AM MT. Right-hander Stephen Fife (0-1, 6.75) will take the ball for the Isotopes in the series finale against Iowa lefty Chris Rusin (0-1, 6.75). Catch all the action on 1050-AM KTBL.

Albuquerque returns home this Friday for an action-packed home-opening eight-game homestand. On Friday, the first 3,000 fans will get an Isotopes scarf courtesy of Sandia Resort and on Saturday, "˜Topes beanie caps will be handed out to the first 3,000 fans courtesy of Coca-Cola. Dodgers Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda is also scheduled to join in on Friday's Opening Night festivities. 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.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2012


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