PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes fight back for 8-4 win over Iowa in season opener

Published on April 6, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (1-0) fell behind early, but rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to take a lead they'd never relinquish in a season-opening 8-4 win over the Iowa Cubs (0-1) Thursday at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Outfielder Mark Little went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while catcher Paul Hoover chipped in three hits with a run and an RBI. The ‘Topes pounded out 15 hits, with all eight starters and even one relief pitcher recording at least one knock.

After spotting Iowa a 3-1 lead, the Cubs made a pitching change to start the sixth inning and the ‘Topes took advantage, tying the score and eventually taking the lead with a four-run frame. A Scott Seabol ground-out that plated Jason Stokes pulled the ‘Topes to within one before Hoover singled to left field, scoring Matt Cepicky and tying the score at 3-3. The game wasn't tied for long, though. After relief pitcher Buddy Carlyle rolled the order over to the top with a single, and Robert Andino drew a walk, Little lined a 3-2 offering to left, plating Hoover and Carlyle to give Albuquerque its first lead of the day, 5-3. Albuquerque would add two more in the seventh and another in the ninth while allowing Iowa a single run in the eight for the final margin.

Starter Renyel Pinto lasted 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits but walking seven and striking out five. Carlyle (1-0)-the third Isotope pitcher of the day-came on in relief and earned the victory with two shutout innings, in which he allowed two hits while striking out three.

Cubs reliever Bobbie Brownlie (0-1) was pinned with the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits in the sixth.

Iowa recorded just one hit in the bottom half of the first, but a string of walks helped put the home team on the board early, 2-0. Pinto walked three batters in the first inning, with two of those three Cubs coming around to score. Second-hitter Ryan Theriot scored on a wild pitch after walking on five pitches, and cleanup hitter Michael Restovich trotted home from second on an RBI single up the middle off the bat of catcher Geovany Soto.

The ‘Topes clawed back in the third, cutting the deficit to one. Little got Albuquerque started with a one-out double off the scoreboard in right. After a Mike Colangelo walk, Little advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the first Isotope run of the game, and the season, via a Jason Stokes RBI groundout to second, pushing the score to 2-1. Iowa would increase the advantage in the following frame back to two runs at 3-1, however, when Augie Ojeda scored on Pinto's third wild pitch of the game.

The ‘Topes will face the I-Cubs again on Friday with right-hander Yusmeiro Petit (0-0) taking the ball for Albuquerque, while the Cubs will counter with former Isotopes southpaw Les Walrond (0-0). First pitch at Principal Park is set for 6:05 p.m. MT

Albuquerque's April 14 home opener versus the New Orleans Zephyrs will feature a Sports Bag giveaway to the first 3,500 fans courtesy of Sandia Resort and Casino with the following night, April 15, featuring the first fireworks show of the 2006 season. For information on individual game tickets, season tickets and mini-plans, please call (505) 924-BALL.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2006


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