PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Martinez has Isotopes seeing double in Zephyrs' 5-4 win

Published on May 28, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Ozzie Martinez broke an eighth-inning tie with an RBI double - his third double of the game - leading the New Orleans Zephyrs to a 5-4 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Saturday night.

With one out and runners at first and second in the eighth, Martinez laced a base hit to left-center field, then beat the throw to second with a headfirst slide to collect his third double and score Jesus Merchan with the go-ahead run.

Merchan had led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Victor Garate. The Isotopes elected to intentionally walk Bryan Petersen, setting the stage for Martinez.

Martinez earlier doubled in the first inning, following a lead off double by Petersen, to put the Zephyrs ahead 1-0.

Zephyrs starter Chris Sampson hit Trent Oeltjen with a pitch to lead off the second, and Jamie Hoffman followed with a two-run homer to give Albuquerque the lead.

Another Martinez double in the third helped swing the game back in favor of the Zephyrs, as his two-bagger again scored Petersen, who had singled. Martinez came around to score on a double off the base of the right field wall by Josh Kroeger, vaulting New Orleans in front, 3-2.

Martinez joined Petersen in delivering a three-double game this season, with both coming against the Isotopes. Petersen had three doubles in Albuquerque on April 26.

Albuquerque answered right back with another two-run homer in the top of the fourth, as Trayvon Robinson sent his ninth home run of the season the opposite way over the fence in left field.

The Z's took advantage of an Isotopes error to even the score in the fifth. With runners at first and second and two out, Oscar Salazar hit a two-hopper which ran up the arm of third baseman Eugenio Velez. The ball deflected to shortstop Dee Gordon, who threw wildly to first, allowing Vinny Rottino to score the tying run.

The contest remained tied until the eighth, as the Isotopes stranded at least one base runner in each inning, and the Zephyrs left the bases loaded in the sixth and eighth.

The Z's finished 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position, and stranded 12 runners.

The Isotopes put together a ninth-inning rally against Jose Ceda, the Pacific Coast League's saves leader. A.J. Ellis singled to lead off the frame, and two outs later, Ivan De Jesus singled pinch-runner Justin Sellers to third. But Ceda got Velez to fly out to center to end the game and finish his 14th save.

With the win, the Zephyrs moved into a second place tie with the Isotopes, 1½ games behind first-place Round Rock.

Garate (2-0) earned the victory with two hitless innings of relief for the Zephyrs. Francisco Felix (3-1) took the loss for Albuquerque, allowing one run on two hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings.

The Zephyrs and Isotopes resume the four-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., with Elih Villanueva (4-5, 6.37) taking the mound for New Orleans, against Albuquerque's Dana Eveland (4-3, 4.00).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 28, 2011


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