PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Rally Falls Short In Wild 14-10 Loss

Published on June 23, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Down eight runs in the eighth, the Albuquerque Isotopes (36-39) mounted a spirited comeback that fell just short as the Iowa Cubs (44-33) held on for a wild, 14-10 win Sunday night at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque mashed three home runs on the night with Dallas McPherson, Andrew Beattie, and Chase Lambin all going deep to no avail.

With Iowa seemingly in control in the eighth up 13-5, Albuquerque started a rally that was ignited by a lead-off single by Chris Barnwell, who had three hits on the night in five at-bats. After a strikeout and a fly-out gave the I-Cubs two outs, the ‘Topes really turned it on, with Tagg Bozied singling to left-center before Beattie drove home Barnwell with a single to cut the lead to 13-6. John Baker added an RBI single scoring Bozied to trim the advantage to 13-7 before Lambin crushed a three-run blast to left that brought the ‘Topes all the way back to within three at 13-10.

The I-Cubs would add a run of insurance in the ninth, however, before slamming the door on the Isotopes in the bottom of the frame to seal the 14-10 win.

Albuquerque found itself falling behind only to come back within striking distance all night. After the I-Cubs scored four in the first, the Isotopes responded with a run in the bottom of the frame, the ninth straight game they've scored in the first inning, when Lorenzo Scott led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by John Gall to make the score 4-1 Cubs.

In the third, Iowa scored four more runs to grab an 8-1 advantage only to see a large chunk of the lead disappear with one swing of McPherson's bat. After Scott walked and Barnwell singled, the slugging third baseman belted his PCL-leading 24th home run over the left field fence on a 3-0 pitch to bring the Isotopes back within four at 8-4.

Iowa scored once more in the fourth but a solo home run by Beattie kept Albuquerque within the four-run threshold at 9-5.

The I-Cubs seized control of the game in the sixth, plating four runs in a rally that was facilitated by an error by reliever Marcos Carvajal and exacerbated by an RBI single by Bobby Scales and a run-scoring double by Koyie Hill to extend the lead to 13-5, setting up Albuquerque's late-inning charge. The gaffe was one of three errors by the Isotopes on the game, all of which proved costly. Of a total of 14 runs allowed by ‘Topes' pitchers, only two were earned.

Starter Chris Michalak (0-2) suffered the loss for Albuquerque after allowing eight runs, all of them unearned, on six hits in three innings of work, while Iowa starter Justin Berg (2-4) grabbed the win.

Albuquerque will look to get back on a winning track Monday behind right-hander Gaby Hernandez (2-6, 6.08), who will take on Iowa lefty J.R. Mathes (4-3, 2.48) in a 7:05 PM start at Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes' four-game homestand rolls on with a pair of giveaways to round out the series, beginning with magnet schedules on Monday and continuing with Isotopes beads on Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased at Isotopes Park or any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or Ticketmaster by phone 505-883-7800. For more information on individual game tickets, season tickets, or mini-plans, visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com or call 505-924-2255.

IOWA 4 0 4 1 0 4 0 0 1 - 14 15 0

ALB 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 5 0 - 10 13 3

WP- Berg (2-4); LP- Michalak (0-2);

Attendance: 8,007

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 23, 2008


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