PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Topes Make It Two Straight vs. Iowa

April 5, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Isotopes (2-0) put up a crooked number for the second consecutive night in Friday's contest with a six-run fifth to defeat the Iowa Cubs (0-2) 10-6. RF Alex Castellanos highlighted the frame with Albuquerque's first home run of the season. The clubs combined for 27 hits in a game lasting 3:25 with 3,918 on hand at Isotopes Park.

The Albuquerque bullpen turned in another long outing, combining for five innings. RHP Steve Ames (1-0) threw a scoreless inning before giving way to Peter Moylan. Moylan allowed three earned runs in two innings of work. Ames departed with the lead, earning his first victory of the season. RHP Shawn Tolleson turned in two scoreless innings to end the game picking up his first save of the year.

Iowa touched Isotope starting pitcher Matt MaGill up for two runs in the first inning. Four of the first five batters reached for the I-Cubs resulting in the first runs of the game, RF Darnell McDonald (1-for-3) singled home Logan Watkins and Brian Bogusevic. Iowa threatened to add on but the Topes converted on a play at the plate, gunning down Brad Nelson for the second straight night. Castellanos fired a Luis Flores base hit home on the fly from right field and Wallach applied the tag completing the out.

Nelson (2-for-3, 2 HR) blasted the first home run hit at Isotopes Park in the 2013 season in the top of the third inning extending the I-Cubs to 3-0 and added a second round tripper in the seventh.

Albuquerque hit the comeback trail with Matt Wallach (2-for-4) doubling to right field to lead-off the bottom of the third inning, his first Triple-A at bat. Carpenter retired to next two batters but walked the next three hitters in a row forcing Wallach home and pulling the Isotopes to within two of Iowa.

Relief pitcher Steve Ames helped his own cause, leading the fifth inning off with a single, the first hit of his career. Elian Herrera (2-for-4) doubled following a Dee Gordon single driving Ames to the plate. With two on, Alex Castellanos (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R) belted the first Isotopes home run of the season to left field giving the home club its first lead of the day. Scott Van Slyke (2-for-3, 2 BB) kept the hit parade going with a single, the team's fifth consecutive hit without recording an out. Two batters later Rusty Ryal had an RBI triple followed by a Tony Gwynn Jr. RBI double capping the inning's scoring at six, culminating in a 7-3 lead.

MaGill went four innings in his first Triple-A start and did not factor into the decision. The righty gave up three runs, all earned, on five hits and struck out two. Iowa starter Drew Carpenter (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering up five earned runs in four innings of work.

The Albuquerque Isotopes and Iowa Cubs go back to work for game three of the four game series tomorrow, Saturday April 6 at 7:05 PM. Albuquerque right-hander Blake Johnson (0-0) will make his first start of the 2013 season against Iowa's LHP Brooks Raley (0-0). Johnson started five games for the Isotopes last season going 3-1 with a 5.74 ERA. Catch all of the game action on 610 The Sports Animal with Josh Suchon.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 5, 2013


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