Isotopes Hold off Chihuahuas for 6-5 Victory

June 17, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release

The Albuquerque Isotopes (31-36) were able to hold off a late rally by El Paso to defeat the Chihuahuas 6-5 Thursday night at Southwest University Park. The win gave the Isotopes a series split with the Chihuahuas at 2-2. Hunter Renfore gave El Paso an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single to left field. The Isotopes responded immediately in the top of the second as Jordan Patterson hit his third home run of the year to tie the score up at 1-1.

Albuquerque would rely on the long ball again the fourth inning when Dustin Garneau belted a two-run home run over the left field wall to put them ahead 3-1. The Isotopes added three more runs in the fifth inning highlighted by RBI singles from Ben Paulsen and Tim Smalling to increase their lead to 6-1.

The Chihuahuas began to rally back in the eighth inning, scoring four runs off three hits. El Paso catcher Austin Hedges led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run to make it a one-run ballgame. Jason Hagerty followed Hedges with a single to center before Isotopes reliever Jason Gruka got Nick Noonan to ground out. The Isotopes then went to the bullpen to bring in Scott Oberg. The closer only needed one pitch to end game as he forced Rocky Gale to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to secure the win for Albuquerque.

Jordan Lyles picked up the win to improve his record to 4-2, while Oberg converted his fifth save of the season. Lyles yielded four runs and six hits in 7.1 innings, which was the longest outing by an Isotopes pitcher this season.

The Isotopes will now head back home to Albuquerque to begin a four-game series against the Reno Aces (Triple-A Diamondbacks) tomorrow night at Isotopes Park. Left-hander Harrison Musgrave (3-2, 4.60) will be on the hill for Albuquerque, while Reno will counter with Braden Shipley (5-3, 3.28). The series opener vs. the Aces will get underway tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.

Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2016

• Aces Shut Down Isotopes with 5-1 Victory - Albuquerque Isotopes
• Sounds Win on Walk-Off Wild Pitch in Tenth - Nashville Sounds
• Nashville Wins 5-4 on Walk-Off Wild Pitch - Round Rock Express
• Sky Sox Downed 5-2 by Omaha in Opener - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
• Shipley Stifles 'Topes in Game 1 Win - Reno Aces
• Tepesch Takes Over New Orleans - Oklahoma City Comets
• Iowa's Late Rally Falls Short - Iowa Cubs
• Redbirds Hold on for 7-6 Win over Iowa - Memphis Redbirds
• Nashville Sounds Game Information: Round Rock Express (36-29) at Nashville Sounds (40-27) - Nashville Sounds
• Top Prospect Mejia, World Champ Machi to Join River Cats - Sacramento River Cats
• Reno Aces Game Information: Reno Aces (35-31) at Albuquerque Isotopes (31-36) - Reno Aces
• Upcoming Homestand Features Tin Lunchbox Giveaway - Reno Aces
• OKC Dodgers Game Notes - June 17, 2016 - Oklahoma City Comets
• Series Preview: River Cats Take on Baseball's Best Offense - Sacramento River Cats
• Fresno Grizzlies Return Home for 8 Games Beginning June 21 - Fresno Grizzlies
• Sky Sox Walk-Off to Stun I-Cubs 9-8 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
• Albuquerque Edges El Paso 6-5 - El Paso Chihuahuas
• Cesar Valdez and Grizzlies sweep Cats 4-0 - Fresno Grizzlies
• Aces Hammered in Finale at Las Vegas - Reno Aces
• Offense Blanked, Waste Heston's Strong Start - Sacramento River Cats
• Isotopes Hold off Chihuahuas for 6-5 Victory - Albuquerque Isotopes

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