PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Murphy's Mash Bushwhacks Birds

Published on August 19, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (59-72) continually chipped away at an early deficit before capitalizing in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-3 comeback victory over the Memphis Redbirds (69-61) Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. Tommy Murphy extended his hitting streak to 14 games by collecting two hits, including the game-tying solo homer in the eighth, while the trio of Scott Nestor, Ross Wolf, and Brandon Villafuerte stymied the Redbirds bats over the final three innings and gave the Isotope offense an opportunity to prevail.

Playing catch-up the entire game, the Isotopes trailed the Memphis Redbirds in the bottom of the eighth, 3-2 until Murphy blasted a leadoff solo home run off of Memphis reliever Kelvin Jimenez to tie the game at three. Dallas McPherson then drew a one out walk, and raced for third when Michael Ryan struck a line drive single to right-center. Jai Miller's lifted a sacrifice fly to right that was knocked far enough for McPherson to tag and score the go-ahead run for the 'Topes, 4-3.

Villafuerte (4) earned his fourth save of the season by striking out the side in the ninth to secure the comeback 4-3 Isotopes victory.

For the second straight night, the 'Birds raced out to an early lead by putting a crooked number up in the first frame. Tyler Greene slapped a one-out single up the middle to start the Redbirds offense in the opening stanza and immediately stole second before Rico Washington drew a walk. After two quick outs and a hit batsman to load the bases, David Freese knocked a two-run double to left that gave Memphis an initial two-run advantage, 2-0.

Tagg Bozied crushed his second solo home run in as many games against his former mates in the bottom of the first to cut the Redbirds lead in half, 2-1.

Over the next four innings, both Frankie De La Cruz and Jess Todd settled into a grove as they combined to shutdown each other's offense before Memphis' Washington drew a leadoff walk and sprinted to third after Josh Phelps stung a line drive single up the middle. Freese stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and continued his dominance of Isotopes pitching by hitting a single to right that plated Washington for what could have been a crucial Memphis insurance run, making the score 3-1.

Albuquerque responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth, when Robert Andino laced a line drive to the left field wall for a double, and then advanced to third after Murphy legged out an infield single. With runners on the corners, Bozied cracked a sacrifice fly to right that was deep enough to plate Andino and bring the Isotopes within striking distance, 3-2.

Albuquerque wraps up the 2008 home schedule with a five-game series with the New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Starting for the 'Topes in the series opener tomorrow night will be southpaw Chris Seddon (9-9, 4.98) who will battle Zephyrs right Ruddy Lugo (7-11, 4.92) with a scheduled first pitch set for 6:35 PM at Isotopes Park.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 19, 2008


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