PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes (Home) Run over I-Cubs 16-3

Published on July 22, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (58-42), dressed in Albuquerque Dukes throwback uniforms, smashed a season-high five home runs in a 16-3 blowout of the Iowa Cubs (41-60) in front of the second largest crowd of the season, 13,798, on Saturday night at Isotopes Park. Three of the five homers occurred during the fifth inning, setting a new season high for most dingers in a single frame.

After Iowa scored two in the first, the 'Topes then put on a show for the gigantic crowd at Isotopes Park, sending 12 men to the plate and pounding out eight runs in the bottom half of the first. Trent Oeltjen led off with a single up the middle and Elian Herrera drew a walk to put two runners on for Josh Fields, who promptly ripped a two-run double that tied the game 2-2. Scott Van Slyke followed with a double of his own to score Fields, and Jerry Sands picked up right where he left off last night by belting a two-run blast to center that put the Isotopes up 5-2. Two batters later Matt Angle, as part of a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included three singles and a double, collected his first hit with a base knock to left, advanced to second on a single from Ivan De Jesus Jr. and reached third on a sac-bunt from pitcher Blake Johnson. Oeltjen then drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Herrera, who smacked a three-run double to left that capped off the inning and extended the lead 8-2. The eight-run onslaught tied a season high for most runs in an inning, which was set only six days ago against Nashville.

Albuquerque added a run in the second on an RBI single from Angle, but the I-Cubs matched the tally in the third when Vitters drove in James Adduci to cut the deficit 9-3.

The 'Topes continued to pour it on in the fifth, making it 11-3 as Johnson reached on an error from Adrian Cardenas and crossed home on a two-run shot from Oeltjen. Two batters later Fields lifted a solo shot to left, and following a walk to Sands, Tim Federowicz crushed a two-run dinger that put the home team up 14-3. Albuquerque's three home runs in the frame came one shy of tying the franchise record.

In the seventh, the Isotopes added one more run courtesy of an RBI triple from De Jesus Jr., before tacking on its final tally in the eighth with a solo shot from Oeltjen that gave Albuquerque a commanding 16-3 advantage. Oeltjen finished the contest with a pair of home runs for his first multi-homer game of the season.

Johnson (1-0), making a spot start, picked up his first win of the year after allowing three runs on five hits in five frames of work. Following the right-hander's departure from the game, relievers Ramon Troncoso, Michael Antonini and Scott Rice shut the I-Cubs out through final four innings as the 'Topes coasted to a 16-3 victory.

Albuquerque and Iowa square off tomorrow night at 6:05 PM in the third contest of their four-game set. 'Topes righty Stephen Fife (7-5, 4.53) will make his first start since returning from his MLB debut with the Dodgers, and gets the ball against Cubs right-hander Chris Volstad (2-4, 5.55).

The Isotopes continue their eight-game homestand with a hat giveaway tomorrow and a business person's special on Monday! 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.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com .

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 22, 2012


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