Isotopes Drop Fifth Straight to Chihuahuas in 9-2 Defeat
August 6, 2022 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release
El Paso, TX - The El Paso Chihuahuas left little doubt on Saturday evening, plating seven runs in the first four innings on their way to a 9-2 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes at Southwest University Park. The Isotopes have dropped the first five contests of this six-game set and need a victory tomorrow to avoid being swept.
Albuquerque (47-57) has dropped a season-worst 10 games below .500 and tied a season-high with a five-game losing streak. They dropped five straight in the first week of the season from April 7-12.
The Chihuahuas (59-45) pounced on Isotopes starter Karl Kauffmann in the second, getting an RBI double from Brett Sullivan and a two-run homer off the bat of Kyle Martin to take a 3-0 lead.
El Paso put the game to bed by scoring four more times in the fourth, highlighted by Matt Beaty's two-run single.
Meanwhile, the Isotopes missed numerous chances to plate early runs off Chihuahuas starter Jay Groome. Albuquerque left the bases loaded in the first, stranded two in the third, and were unable to convert after a leadoff double by Alan Trejo in the fourth.
In the fifth, Albuquerque again loaded the bases, this time with nobody out. After back-to-back strikeouts, Trejo singled to put the Topes on the board before D.J. Peterson drew a walk to push across another run, making it 7-2. El Paso changed hurlers and Jimmy Herron popped out to end the frame. Groome lasted 4.2 innings in his Chihuahuas debut after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of the Eric Hosmer package.
Kauffmann worked 4.2 frames, allowing nine hits and seven runs as he took his first Triple-A loss.
Jose Azocar singled home two runs in the seventh to put the game away for El Paso, as they regained their seven-run advantage.
Topes Scope: - This is the fourth time the Isotopes have dropped the first five games of a series in club history. They were swept in five-game sets vs. Colorado Springs (Aug. 25-29, 2004) and at Oklahoma City (Aug. 16-20, 2013) before losing the first five at El Paso from May 13-17, 2021 then winning the finale.
- Kauffmann gave up his most runs since allowing up eight (all earned) in his third start of the year for Double-A Hartford on April 24 vs. Somerset. He walked only 34 batters in 15 starts for the Yard Goats this season, but has issued 18 free passes in five starts with the Topes.
- Albuquerque set a season-high with four double plays turned. The last time they had four was Aug. 3, 2021 vs. Salt Lake.
- LJ Hatch is 0-for-11 over his last three contests, the first time he has failed to reach base in three consecutive games for the first time all season.
- The Isotopes have dropped 15 of their last 20 games in El Paso dating back to last year, and are being outscored 104-52 in the 15 defeats.
- Wynton Bernard registered his team-leading 34th multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-4 with a double.
- Hitting streaks ended for both Carlos Pérez (10 games) and Coco Montes (11 games). Pérez batted .419 (18-for-43) with five doubles, four homers and 10 RBI during his stretch, while Montes batted .370 (17-for-46) with four doubles, five homers and 19 RBI throughout his hot streak.
- Heath Holder struck out the side in order in the eighth inning, tied for his second-most strikeouts in a game this season. He fanned three on April 29 vs. Sacramento, June 5 at Sugar Land and July 3 vs. Sugar Land. His most was four on April 26 vs. Sacramento.
On Deck: Albuquerque will try to avoid being swept in the series tomorrow. If El Paso wins, it would be just the fifth time a PCL/Triple-A West team has swept a six-game series since Minor League Baseball changed to six-game sets prior to last season. Right-hander Riley Smith is scheduled to start the Isotopes, while the Chihuahuas are expected to go with right-hander Pedro Avila. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 6, 2022
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