PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Thurston's Two Homers Power Z's Past Isotopes

Published on July 31, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Joe Thurston went 3-for-5 with two home runs, and the New Orleans Zephyrs pounded out 12 hits to defeat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 9-3 on Sunday night at Zephyr Field.

The Zephyrs jumped on Albuquerque starter Randy Keisler early, as Jorge Padilla led off the first inning with a single to left, followed by a two-run shot from Thurston over the right field wall.

Jose Lopez followed suit, taking Keisler's 1-1 offering deep over the left field wall for back-to-back home runs and putting the Zephyrs ahead 3-0.

It was just the second time the Zephyrs have hit consecutive home runs this year, as Matt Dominguez and Chris Aguila did so on July 19 at Round Rock.

The Z's exploded for five runs in the third inning, with all of the runs coming with two outs. Lopez doubled, followed a Mike Cervenak walk.

Both runners advanced on a wild pitch by Keisler, and scored when Vinny Rottino ripped a two-run double to left-center to make it 5-0.

Keisler then walked the next three batters to force in a run, and Zephyrs pitcher Sean West capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle, giving him nine runs batted in this season and chasing Keisler from the game.

Keisler (6-5) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs on six hits.

After West retired the first nine Isotopes he faced, Jay Gibbons put the Isotopes on the board in the fourth inning with a three-run homer to slice the New Orleans lead to 8-3.

West (5-7) finished with 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits. The 25-year-old left-hander has now alternated wins and losses in each of his last six starts.

The two pitching staffs settled in the remainder of the game, with the lone run coming in the Zephyrs eighth inning off Thurston's second home run of the game.

It was Thurston's first multi-homer effort since April 18, 2006, when playing for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

The Zephyrs have now won four straight games against the Isotopes, and eight of the last nine meetings played between the clubs at Zephyr Field.

New Orleans will attempt to clinch the season series against Albuquerque on Monday at 6 p.m. in game three of the four-game set. Tom Koehler (6-6) takes the mound for the Z's as he faces off against Albuquerque's John Ely (6-4).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 31, 2011


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