Sports stats



PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Drop See-Saw Battle to Memphis, 6-5

June 10, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Jason Wood hit a two-run homer in the third inning to put the ‘Topes ahead, but the lead slipped away and the Albuquerque Isotopes (37-26) dropped a 6-5 decision to the Memphis Redbirds (22-39) Saturday night in front of a 2006 record crowd of 12,738 at Isotopes Park.

Down a run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Scott Seabol hit a bases loaded line drive right at Memphis hurler Brian Falkenborg. The ball deflected off Falkenborg's throwing arm and fell just in front of the mound, allowing the Redbird reliever enough time to scoop it up, relay to first and retire Seabol for the final out. The loss snaps a four-game Albuquerque winning streak.

Wood finished the day 2-for-5 with a homer and three runs batted in. Eric Reed had four hits in five trips to the plate, driving in a run and scoring one himself.

‘Topes starter Nic Ungs kept his team in the game, allowing just two runs-one earned-on five hits over five innings. Ungs left the game with a 3-2 lead, but the Albuquerque bullpen was not able to hold it. Matt Blank allowed the tying run to cross in the sixth and after the ‘Topes answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, Wes Wilkerson and Joe Horgan surrendered three runs in the seventh, which put Memphis on top for good.

Horgan (3-1) took the loss for Albuquerque. Memphis starter, and former Isotope, Travis Smith (2-1) earned the win, scattering five runs on nine hits over six innings of work. Two Redbird relievers-Josh Kinney and Matt Perisho-held the ‘Topes at bay through the next two frames before Falkenborg came on to end a shaky ninth inning and earn his ninth save.

Albuquerque led early, using an RBI single off the bat of Wood to take a quick 1-0 lead in the first. Memphis answered back with single tallies in the second and third frames to go ahead by a run, but Wood's two-run blast in the third put the ‘Topes right back in the driver's seat, 3-2.

In the sixth, Memphis manufactured a run to tie the score, but again Albuquerque answered as Mike Colangelo hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to right and Reed hit an RBI single to left to put the ‘Topes on top 5-3.

That lead turned out to be not enough, though. Memphis pushed across three in the seventh inning-capped by a Brian Daubach two-run blast to right-and the Redbirds now led 6-5. After going quietly in the seventh and eighth, the ‘Topes managed to load the bases in the ninth with two outs and Seabol at the plate. The Albuquerque second baseman crushed Falkenborg's offering, but the Redbird pitcher got just enough flesh on the baseball to retire Seabol and end the game.

The ‘Topes and ‘Birds will complete the four-game series on Sunday evening at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque is set to send Jeff Fulchino (2-3, 4.20) to the hill, while Memphis will counter with Anthony Reyes (2-1, 2.93).

The Isotopes will celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Night tomorrow with a pink hat giveaway to the first 3,000 fans courtesy of Radiology Associates of Albuquerque and a game-worn pink jersey silent auction benefiting Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Sunday's game, with first pitch scheduled at 6:05 PM will be preceded by an Albuquerque Journal Autograph Session with Ungs and outfielder James Shanks from 5:00 to 5:30 PM..

Tickets can be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, www.albuquerquebaseball.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please call (505) 924-2255.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 10, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Albuquerque Isotopes Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central