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PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes get blanked by Royals

April 17, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


For the second straight night, the Albuquerque Isotopes (5-5) offense was suppressed, managing just six hits, as the Omaha Royals (4-6) blanked the ‘Topes 2-0 Saturday night at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque was held to just six hits last night after bopping 68 total in the first four games of the homestand.

The Isotopes were shut-out just three times at home last year, twice by the Royals.

The Topes' pitching staff fared much better as starter Josh Towers (1-1) scattered six hits over six innings, allowing one run for the hard-luck loss. Justin Miller and Luis Ayala also did their best to give the Albuquerque bats a chance to wake up, tossing a combined three innings with just one unearned run and three hits after Towers' departure.

While the O-Royals held an early 1-0 lead with a quick run in the first inning, Albuquerque couldn't figure out Omaha's pitching, putting just seven runners on base all night. The ‘Topes stranded three of those runners on third, including one in the first inning before Anthony Lerew sat down 11 straight ‘Topes through the fourth. The Isotopes left a runner on third in the fourth and fifth to squander two more potential opportunities.

From the fifth on, Royals pitching retired 15 of 18, including facing the minimum from the sixth through the eighth. Albuquerque would have one last shot with two outs in the ninth as Jay Gibbons reached on an error and Prentice Redman followed with a single. Royals closer Blake Wood induced a groundout to Nick Green, however, to send Albuquerque to the shutout setback.

Omaha's early run came courtesy a Mike Aviles RBI single that plated Irving Falu after a passed ball allowed Falu to scoot to third. Their second run also could have been avoided as right fielder Xavier Paul's throw from right field on a Cody Clark single hit Clark at first allowing Buck Coats to score from third on the error and put the Royals up 2-0, which would more than suffice to secure the victory.

Albuquerque will look to stop a two-game slide on Sunday with right-hander James McDonald (0-0, 3.09) taking the mound for the Isotopes against former ‘Tope righty Gaby Hernandez (1-0, 2.45) in a 1:35 PM start from Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes opening homestand rolls on with back-to-back day games starting with a Sunday matinee that features a Pink Water Bottle giveaway courtesy of the American Cancer Society. 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 April 17, 2010


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