PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Isotopes Swept in Twin-Bill at Nashville 0-5, 2-4

Published on July 14, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Three days off for the Triple-A All-Star Break were not enough to shake the Albuquerque Isotopes (47-45) from their doldrums, as the ‚¬ËœTopes were swept in a doubleheader by the Nashville Sounds (43-49) 5-0 and 4-2 Thursday night at Greer Stadium. Albuquerque has now lost four straight games to the Sounds and nine of its last 10 games played on the road.

The first contest featured a pitcher's duel between Isotopes spot-starter Joe Newby and former ‚¬ËœTope Frankie De La Cruz, who traded zeroes through the game's first four frames until Nashville surged ahead in the fifth. With runners on the corners and one out, Newby was replaced by lefty reliever David Pfeiffer, who promptly surrendered an RBI single to Taylor Green, giving the home team a 1-0 edge. Mat Gamel then followed with a two-run single, increasing the Nashville lead to 3-0.

The Sounds would augment the advantage in the sixth on a two-run double by Eric Farris, making the score 5-0, which was plenty for Nashville pitchers De La Cruz, Mike McClendon, and Tim Dillard, who combined to hold the ‚¬ËœTopes offense to just three hits in a 5-0 game one triumph.

In the night-cap, Nashville again jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first on an RBI single by Green before adding another tally in the second on a lead-off homer by Jordan Brown to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.

Albuquerque finally got on the board in the fourth when Ivan De Jesus Jr. smashed a solo homer, but the Sounds answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back homers by Brown and Andy Gonzalez to extend Nashville's lead to 4-1.

The ‚¬ËœTopes trimmed the lead to two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Dee Gordon that plated Justin Sellers, but that's as close as they'd get, as reliever Donovan Hand (1) shut the door on Albuquerque with a perfect seventh, sealing the 4-2 win and the Nashville doubleheader sweep.

Albuquerque continues its series in the Music City on Friday with lefty Randy Keisler (5-4, 3.62) taking the hill for the ‚¬ËœTopes against Sounds right-hander Josh Butler (5-5, 5.11). First pitch from Greer Stadium is 6:05 PM MT.

The Isotopes return home next Monday for an eight-game homestand against division rivals Oklahoma City and New Orleans that is highlighted by Dukes Retro Night and an annual Orbit bobble giveaway. 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.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 14, 2011


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