Round Rock Express Squander Late Lead at Albuquerque
July 6, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Jerry Sands' ninth-inning, two-run homer gave the Albuquerque Isotopes a 10-9 victory over the Round Rock Express in Thursday night's Pacific Coast League action at Isotopes Park. The Express (38-50) have lost four straight and five of their last six. The Isotopes (50-38) have won eight of their last nine home games and took a 5-4 lead in the season series with their second victory in as many nights against the Express.
Dusty Brown's grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning as the Express erased a 5-2 deficit. Round Rock pushed its lead to 9-5 in the seventh thanks to a Matt Kata RBI single and a Luis Hernandez sacrifice fly.
However, the game was far from over. Tim Federowicz plated two runs with a two-out single in the seventh, and Tyler Henson led off the eighth with a homer to close the gap to 9-8. Express closer Aaron Heilman walked Alex Castellanos to open the ninth. After Heilman induced a groundout that advanced Castellanos to second, Sands ripped his 12th homer of the season to end the game.
Josh Wall (2-1) picked up the win in relief for the Isotopes; he pitched a perfect top of the ninth with one strikeout. Starter Will Savage surrendered four runs - three earned - on five hits and two walks over five and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts. Wil Ledezma did not retire any of the three batters he faced in the sixth and surrendered Brown's grand slam.
Heilman (1-1) took the loss in only his second blown save of the season; he was successful on each of his last six save opportunities. Starter Greg Reynolds allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings but left in line for the win. Willie Eyre yielded three runs - two earned - over one and one-third innings on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts.
Brad Nelson and Yangervis Solarte both enjoyed two-hit nights for the Express, who scored more than six runs for the first time since June 12, stopping a 21-game stretch. Round Rock also stopped a run of 13 straight games scoring fewer than six runs. Brown's homer was the fourth Express round-tripper in their last 11 games and Round Rock's third grand slam this season. Nelson and Ryan Spilborghs each scored twice.
Fields and Federowicz led Albuquerque's 15-hit barrage with three hits apiece. Castellanos, Henson and Sands added two hits each. Fields finished with four RBI, and Castellanos scored three times. Trent Oeltjen also had a two-run homer.
Round Rock and Albuquerque continue their five-game series Friday with an 8:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at Isotopes Park. Southpaw Chad Bell (2-0, 0.77 ERA) makes his third Triple-A start for the Express, while right-hander Stephen Fife (6-5, 4.88 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Isotopes.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 6, 2012
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- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Four Isotopes to Take Part in New Mexico Fire Relief - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sands Smashes Walk-Off Homer in 10-9 'Topes Win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Cats Drop Wild Extra-Inning Affair in Fresno, 9-8 - Sacramento River Cats
- Las Vegas wins over Tucson - Tucson Padres
- Round Rock Express Squander Late Lead at Albuquerque - Round Rock Express
- Sox Shut Down One Day After 19-Run Explosion in 5-1 Loss - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Salt Lake rolls to 9-5 win - Salt Lake Bees
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