PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Mitchell Blast Sends 'Topes Over Chasers, 6-4

Published on July 26, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Third baseman Russ Mitchell crushed a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, breaking a 4-4 tie and sending the Albuquerque Isotopes (55-49) to an exciting 6-4 series-opening win over the Omaha Storm Chasers (55-48) Tuesday night at Werner Park.

With the game deadlocked at 4-4, Ivan De Jesus Jr. started the ‚¬ËœTopes rally by drawing a lead-off walk from Chasers reliever Everett Teaford. Two batters later, Mitchell launched a massive two-run homer deep over the wall in left field to give Albuquerque a 6-4 lead.

The instant two-run cushion was plenty for Isotopes closer Jon Link, who worked around a one-out single by Jarrod Dyson to close out the Storm Chasers in the bottom of the ninth and secure his 10th save in the 6-4 ‚¬ËœTopes triumph.

Albuquerque jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first, when the Isotopes quickly loaded the bases without an out on a lead-off single by Justin Sellers and back-to-back walks to De Jesus and Jay Gibbons. Trayvon Robinson was then hit by a pitch from Omaha starter Mike Montgomery, scoring Sellers and giving the ‚¬ËœTopes a 1-0 advantage. Jerry Sands poked an infield single that deflected off Montgomery's glove, sending De Jesus home and increasing the lead to 2-0 Albuquerque.

Omaha got on the board in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by David Lough to trim the lead to 2-1, but the ‚¬ËœTopes answered in the top of the fourth with two more tallies. With A.J. Ellis perched on first, Sellers hammered a double to right, scoring the catcher all the way from first and scampering to third on the throw home. With De Jesus at the plate, Montgomery unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Sellers to trot home easily and make the score 4-1 Isotopes.

Again, the Chasers made it a one-run game with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. With two down in the frame, Joaquin Arias hit a ground ball to short that was mishandled by Sellers for a flood gates-opening error. Omaha took advantage of the miscue with a double by Cody Clark, putting two runners in scoring position for Dyson, who lined a single left, plating the pair and cutting the lead to 4-3.

Omaha would knot the game one inning later, when Lough led off the frame with a triple and immediately scored on single by Lorenzo Cain to tie the contest at 4-4.

He didn't figure in the decision, but Albuquerque got an excellent start from left-hander Randy Keisler, who pitched seven strong innings, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on eight hits while walking one and striking out two. Travis Schlichting (5-3) spelled Keisler and pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win before turning the game over to Link.

The Isotopes will look for a second straight win in Omaha on Wednesday with right-hander John Ely (6-4, 5.52) taking the hill for the ‚¬ËœTopes against Chasers righty Jeff Suppan (9-5, 4.60) in a 6:05 PM MT start from Werner Park.

Albuquerque will return to Isotopes Park on Wednesday, August 3rd to start another eight-game homestand against the Tacoma Rainiers and Salt Lake Bees which includes a slew of great giveaways like Orbit Banks and Isotopes Hats as well as a fireworks extravaganza. 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 July 26, 2011


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