PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

New Orleans Rains on Topes Late Parade

Published on May 6, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Albuquerque (17-14) rallied for four ninth-inning runs to even the score but fell to the Zephyrs (14-16) 9-8 in the 11th inning in the final game of their eight-game homestand. Catcher Tim Federowicz (4-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R), Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for April 29 through May 5, was again stellar and smacked a ninth inning homer in the loss.

New Orleans got off to a fast start on getaway day going up 1-0 over the Topes in the first inning. Lead-off man Gorkys Hernandez singled to right field in front of RF Bryan Petersen. Peterson drove Hernandez in on his eighth double of the season.

The Isotopes would not be playing from behind for long, plating three first-inning runs. LF Tony Gwynn Jr. (2-for-6) singled to lead off. The Topes offense was then helped along with a fielding error on a CF Matt Angle grounder and a 1B Scott Van Slyke hit-by-pitch. Back-to-back singles by Federowicz and RF Chili Buss then pushed across three runs.

New Orleans got a run closer, slimming the Topes lead to, 3-2, in the fourth after two scoreless frames put up by both starters. LF Jordan Brown started things with a single to left. Paul Gran, the next batter, was hit by a pitch pushing Brown into scoring position. Pitcher Doug Mathis followed by singling to left field scoring Brown.

The Zephyrs tallied two runs in the fifth taking a one-run lead, 4-3, for the second time of the game. Petersen belted his first home run of the season to right field, knotting the game at three. 1B Ben Lasater and SS Matt Downs singled in succession leading up to Brown. Brown cleaned up the bases sending the pair to the plate on his fourth double of the season.

The Zs took advantage of a defensive miscue in right field that would account for all three runs in the sixth. SS Matt Downs popped up to shallow right field where the ball fell between two Topes allowing Petersen and Lucas to score. Hill then doubled Downs in capping the sixth inning scoring.

Tim Federowicz sliced the New Orleans lead to three runs, 7-4, in the home half of the sixth. Albuquerque came up with four in the ninth to send the game to extras. Buss followed a second Federowicz homer with a walk and SS Ozzie Martinez single Buss to third putting runners on the corner. Gwynn Jr. blooped a single into left field scoring Buss narrowing the Zephyrs lead to two. 3B Elian Herrera smoked a single into center scoring Martinez and putting the tying run at third. Van Slyke was hit for a second time on the day with the bases loaded.

Righty Anthony Ortega (1-1, 3.09) suffered the loss for Albuquerque surrendering the winning run in the eleventh after tossing a scoreless tenth. Downs doubled in Ed Lucas for what would be the winning run.

Albuquerque southpaw Aaron Laffey started his first game for the Topes after signing with the Dodgers on April 30. Laffey threw 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. He struck out a batter, did not walk anybody and gave up a solo shot to Petersen. RHP Red Patterson allowed three runs in his inning of work out of the pen. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz and Geison Aguasviva combined for 2.1 innings of work. De La Cruz fired 1.1 scoreless frames fanning four hitters and Aguasviva gave up a run in his inning. Righty Chris Withrow pitched a scoreless ninth with one punch out.

RHP Doug Mathis went 6.2 innings from the starter's role for New Orleans earning the win. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked two, struck out two and surrendered one home run. RHP Jordan Smith (3-1, 4.24) earned the win firing two scoreless innings.

The Topes hit the road for eight games starting tomorrow, May 7 against the Tucson Padres at 8:05 PM from Kino Stadium. Albuquerque will send RHP Sean White (1-3, 5.18) to the mound against Tucson's RHP Sean O'Sullivan (1-2, 5.34). The Isotopes will finish the road trip with a four game-game set against the Las Vegas 51s before returning home to face last year's Pacific Coast League champions Reno on May 16. Catch all of the game action on 610 AM "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.

Tickets are on sale now at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000, or online at www.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For information, please call (505) 924-2255.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2013


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