PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes blast Beavers

Published on August 9, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


In what has become a regular occurrence, the Albuquerque Isotopes (63-52) cranked out a colossal inning, plating nine runs in the eighth to create an insurmountable lead and pull away with a 17-7 win over the Portland Beavers (50-65) in the series finale Saturday night at Isotopes Park.

The win, coupled with a loss from Oklahoma City, gives the ‘Topes a six-game lead in the American Southern division, the largest division lead held by an Isotopes team in franchise history.

With a three-run lead entering the eighth, the ‘Topes sent 14 batters to the dish gathering nine runs, a season-high for one inning, to ensure a series spilt and prevent Albuquerque from losing its first series at home since June 6-9. Instead, the ‘Topes unloaded in an inning highlighted by two huge home runs, a grand slam from Mitch Jones and a three-run dinger from Blake DeWitt. The four-run shot marks Jones' second grand slam this season while DeWitt's bomb is the second in as many days after the infielder went over two months without a long ball.

Albuquerque scored a run in every inning but two and at one point trailed the Beavers 5-3 before the bullpen chipped in five scoreless innings that allowed the ‘Topes to reclaim the lead.

A passed ball in the first that scored Chin-Lung Hu and an RBI single from Dee Brown gave the ‘Topes two automatic tallies in the first while Jones added a run-producing single in the third in response to a Chad Huffman RBI single in the top of the frame to give the ‘Topes a 3-1 lead.

Albuquerque looked destined for a repeat of last night's fate, when the Beavers stormed back with a big inning of their own. Portland used two home runs in the fourth to take over the advantage, using a three-run dinger from Mike Baxter and a solo shot from Chad Huffman to go up 5-3.

Josh Lindblom relieved Dwayne Pollok with two outs in the inning, immediately recording a strikeout to begin 3.1 innings of scoreless work in which he sat down eight in a row and retired 10 of the 12 batters he faced.

While Lindblom kept the Beavers off the board, Albuquerque slowly chipped away. After bringing the score to 5-4 with a Jamie Hoffmann run-scoring single in the fourth, the ‘Topes grabbed a 6-5 lead with two runs in the fifth via a Luis Maza two-run triple and added two more in the seventh thanks to a J.D. Closser pinch-hit full count double to left giving Albuquerque a 8-5 edge.

The classic Isotopes inning arrived in the eighth as Albuquerque loaded the bases for slugger Jones who sent his 28th home run to left-center. After Hu pushed across another run on a fielder's choice and Hoffmann sent in one more with his fourth single of the night, DeWitt capped the inning with the three-run long ball for a 17-5 cushion.

Francisco Felix entered the contest in a save situation in the eighth with the ‘Topes leading 8-5, allowed two in the ninth before striking out his final two batters to end the game and pick up a save despite the lopsided outcome. Lindblom collected his first win since his first Triple-A start to improve to 2-0. The right-hander has allowed just seven runs in 25 innings between the two victories in 11 total appearances.

Albuquerque will welcome the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, to Isotopes Park for the first of a four game series. Right-hander J.D. Durbin (0-2, 6.00) will get the ball for the ‘Topes, taking on former Isotopes lefty Chris Seddon (7-6, 4.00) in a 6:05 PM MT start from The Lab.

The Isotopes' big homestand rolls on with the always popular Cowbell Night tomorrow night! 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

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 9, 2009


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