PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Fall in Lightning-Shortened Home Finale, 7-6

Published on August 29, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The only thing that could thwart a late Albuquerque Isotopes (68-68) comeback proved to be Mother Nature, as rain and lightning shortened the ‚¬ËœTopes' home finale with the Round Rock Express (81-55) hanging on to a 7-6 win in eight innings. A total of 13,520 fans were on hand to enjoy the game, and a mid-rain delay fireworks show, bringing the Isotopes' 2011 season total to 578,328 over 71 dates for an average of 8,145.

Round Rock looked to be in complete control, up 7-0 until the ‚¬ËœTopes mounted a rally in the sixth. Ivan De Jesus Jr. led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Joe Becker, setting up Jay Gibbons, who laced a single to right, plating De Jesus and putting the ‚¬ËœTopes on the board, 7-1. Russ Mitchell then drew a walk to load the bases for Jerry Sands, who smashed a grand slam left-center field, bringing Albuquerque all the way back to within a pair of runs at 7-5.

Sands ignited the Isotopes' next rally in the eighth as well, leading off the inning with a single and scoring all the way from first on a single to left-center by Tim Federowicz that trimmed the Express lead to 7-6. The slugging Sands finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Isotopes' late attack. That's as close as the ‚¬ËœTopes would get, as a heavy rain storm hit Isotopes Park, causing a delay before the ninth inning could begin. Even after the rain had moved on, lightning remained, and after a 56-minute impasse, the umpires decided it was unsafe to continue, calling the game after eight innings with Round Rock a 7-6 winner.

With the way the game started, it looked like it would be an Express blow-out, as the visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second on a three-run homer by Jose Ruiz before tacking on another run on a solo shot by Val Majewski to make the score 4-0.

Round Rock added three more in the fifth, two on a double by Brad Nelson, who then scored on a triple by Majewski to increase the Express lead to 7-0. Majewski ended up finishing a double away from the cycle, racking up three hits and two RBI for the E-Train.

The ‚¬ËœTopes will now close out the 2011 regular season on the road with four games in Memphis and four more in Round Rock, Texas. Albuquerque will begin its trek with a series against the Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-hander Francisco Felix (3-2, 6.34) will make the start for the ‚¬ËœTopes against ‚¬ËœBirds righty Adam Ottavino (6-8, 5.12) in a 6:05 PM MT start from AutoZone Park.

The Isotopes' 2011 regular season wraps up today, but that doesn't baseball is finished in the Duke City. The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game comes to Albuquerque on Tuesday, September 20, pitting the winner of the Pacific Coast League playoffs against the playoff winner in the International League in a one-game, winner-take-all showdown. In addition to the game, there will also be a pre-game autograph session with Dodgers legends Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell, a fleece blanket giveaway courtesy Sandia Resort, and a post-game fireworks extravaganza. Tickets 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

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 29, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central