PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Sky Sox Topple 'Topes

Published on May 28, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (23-23) were stymied by Colorado Springs Sky Sox (28-18) starter Brandon Hynick, who limited the ‘Topes to just three hits through seven innings, as the Sox cruised to an 8-4 series finale win Thursday night at Isotopes Park.

Hynick (5-3) took a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed just one run to pick up his third straight win. Dee Brown broke up the no-no bid with a first pitch blast that just stayed fair over the right-field wall with one out in the fifth. Brown, who finished with three total hits, accounted for two of the ‘Topes knocks off Hynick. The Colorado Springs righty, sat down all but four batters and induced 14 groundouts.

The Sky Sox staked their starter a quick lead, roughing up Hynick's counterpart Miguel Pinango (2-5) from the get-go. Colorado Springs rapidly scored four runs over the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead. A Mike McCoy fielder's choice plated Eric Young, Jr., who led off the game with a triple, making it 1-0 in the top of the very first frame.

After a leadoff single by Edwin Bellorin in the second, Hynick contributed a run-scoring double to left to extend the lead to 2-0. Pinango proceeded to walk Young one batter later and hit McCoy with a pitch to load the bags for Carlos Gonzalez, who was also issued a free pass that forced home the third tally. Matt Miller capped the three-run second by lifting a sacrifice fly to right to give the visitors a 4-0 edge.

The Sky Sox knocked Albuquerque relievers Hyang-Nam Choi and Nick DeBarr for two runs apiece to cushion their advantage to 8-1 entering the bottom of the eighth. Choi, who entered in the fourth, surrendered a leadoff single up the middle to Jonathan Herrera before Hynick collected his second RBI double one batter later to push across Herrera. After moving to third on a groundout, Hynick upped the lead to 6-1, sprinting home on a sacrifice fly from McCoy. Colorado Springs touched DeBarr for two with run-scoring singles in the seventh and eighth for the 8-1 cushion.

The ‘Topes slowly chipped away after Hynick's removal. With one out in the eighth, Luis Maza laced a double down the left-field line off reliever Ryan Speier. Jason Repko proceeded to provide a pinch-hit single, plating Maza and extending his hit streak to 15 games while cutting the score to 8-2.

After posting two late-inning rallies in the last two games, the ‘Topes mounted one last attack in the bottom of the ninth. With Brown on base via an infield hit, Valentino Pascucci unloaded for a monstrous two-run dinger to left-center to reduce the Sky Sox lead to 8-4 with one out. Danny Ardoin reached on a single one batter later, but was gunned down at second after an ambiguous pop-up by Maza fell out of Sky Sox right fielder Dan Ortmeier's glove leaving Maza on first with two outs. The ‘Topes couldn't muster any more, however, falling short of a third straight comeback when Mike Wilhite fanned Hector Luna to end the game.

The Isotopes will hit the road tomorrow to take on the Oklahoma City RedHawks in the Sooner State. Right-hander James McDonald (0-0, 4.05) will take the hill for the ‘Topes against an Okie City start that is to be determined.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 28, 2009


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