PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes and Z's Split Twin-Bill 6-5, 3-8

August 25, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (64-65) finished up a four-game series with a doubleheader split on Tuesday at Isotopes Park against the New Orleans Zephyrs (62-68), taking the first game in walk-off fashion 6-5 before dropping the night-cap 8-3.

In game one, 'Topes catcher Mike Rivera crushed a solo home run 430 feet to left in the bottom of the second, giving Albuquerque a 1-0 lead.

New Orleans quickly erased the advamtage with four in the third to grab a 4-1 edge but the 'Topes stormed back with four of their own in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two out, Russ Mitchell lined a double into the left field corner, clearing the bases and knotting the game at 4-4. John Lindsey then hit a slow roller to third that was thrown away by Mike Lamb for an error, allowing Mitchell to race home with the go-ahead tally, making the score 5-4 Isotopes.

The Zephyrs would eventually tie the game at five apiece in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Chris Hatcher, but the luck would swing the way of the Isotopes in the bottom of the seventh. After Mitchell and Lindsey hit back-to-back singles, Jamie Hoffmann was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Lopez, who came in as a pinch-hitter and promptly laced a single to right-center, scoring Mitchell and giving Albuquerque a dramatic 6-5, walk-off win.

The Z's avoided the sweep, which would have been the first Isotope series sweep in 2010, with an eight-run fifth inning which included two home runs and four RBI by former 'Tope Brett Carroll. With Albuquerque holding a 3-0 lead, Carroll started the scoring in the frame with a solo home run and after four more runs scored, delivered a three-run shot to cap the inning and send New Orleans to a comfortable 8-3 game-two victory.

The Isotopes begin a huge five-game series with the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Wednesday looking to erase a five-game deficit in the PCL's American Southern Division. Right-hander Charlie Haeger (2-2, 5.55) will get the ball in the first game for Albuquerque against 'Hawks righty Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 2.39) in a 6:35 PM start from The Lab.

Albuquerque continues its monster homestand, featuring 14 games in 13 days, on Wednesday with Outback Scratch Tickets courtesy of Outback Steakhouse where the first 5,000 fans will get a chance to win Outback for a year. Even if fans don't win the grand prize, they'll still come away with something as every ticket is a winner! Tickets for any Isotopes game may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 25, 2010


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