PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Stung by Bees, 11-8

Published on August 8, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (59-57) gave up three runs in both the first and second innings and couldn't recover from the six-run deficit, falling 11-8 to the Salt Lake Bees (53-63) Sunday evening at Isotopes Park.

Salt Lake came out of the gate hot against ‚¬ËœTopes All-Star starter Dana Eveland, plating three tallies in the opening frame on a two-run single by Jeff Baisley and an RBI groundout by Efren Navarro to grab a quick 3-0 edge. The Bees would then double the advantage in the second when Reggie Willits drew a two-out walk and advanced to second on a single by Alexi Amarista for Hank Conger, who crushed a three-run homer to centerfield that increased the visitor's lead to 6-0 after just two innings.

The ‚¬ËœTopes started chipping away in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Brad Coon that plated A.J. Ellis, but the Bees answered with two of their own in the top of the fourth on a two-run single by Conger to take a commanding 8-1 lead.

Albuquerque went to work in the bottom of the fourth, plating four runs and climbing right back into the contest. With two-out and a man on third, Jamie Hoffmann roped an RBI triple to center to make the score 8-2. After a four-pitch walk to Ellis, Tim Federowicz blasted a three-run homer to left to bring the Isotopes back within three at 8-5. Federowicz's first two hits to start his Triple-A career have both been homers.

Again, the ‚¬ËœTopes were unable to keep the Bees from adding to their lead, as Salt Lake added a pair of runs in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to Conger, his sixth RBI of the game, and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Baisley to boost the cushion to five runs at 10-5.

Still, the Isotopes would not go quietly, scoring three more times to again draw within two. With the bases loaded and one out, Ivan De Jesus Jr., after an epic 11-pitch at-bat, dumped a single into shallow right-center, scoring one and cutting the lead to 10-6, Salt Lake. Jay Gibbons then belted a sacrifice fly to right that came a breath away from leaving the park for a grand slam, before the red-hot Russ Mitchell lined a single to center, scoring one more and cutting the lead to 10-8.

Salt Lake would add one more insurance run in the seventh on a solo homer by Navarro that proved to be all the Bees would need as the visitors held the ‚¬ËœTopes scoreless over the last three innings to seal an 11-8 win.

Bees reliever Matt Meyer (1-1) earned the win, while Eveland (11-6) suffered his first defeat since July 1. Salt Lake closer Michael Kohn (9) got the save.

The Isotopes will look to get back in the win column on Monday behind right-hander Mike Parisi (2-1, 7.88), who gets the start for the ‚¬ËœTopes against Bees righty Jerome Williams (5-2, 4.21) in a 7:05 PM first pitch from Isotopes Park.

Albuquerque's big homestand continues Monday with the second of four straight games against Salt Lake, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles of Anaheim. Tickets for any Isotopes game may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 8, 2011


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