PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Mauled by Grizzlies, 15-10

August 13, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (60-60) saw a two-run lead completely evaporate in an eight-run sixth as the Fresno Grizzlies (54-66) surged to a wild 15-10 win Friday night at Chukchansi Park. The ‚¬ËœTopes now have a .500 record for the first time since they were 2-2 way back on April 10.

Early on, it seemed the ‚¬ËœTopes would run away with it, as the visiting team led off the game with four runs in the first inning. Ivan De Jesus Jr. led off the game with a solo homer that gave Albuquerque an immediate 1-0 edge. A.J. Ellis followed with a walk, Jay Gibbons added a double, and Russ Mitchell drew another free pass, loading the bases with none out for Jerry Sands, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right, plating Ellis and increasing the lead to 2-0. Jamie Hoffmann capped the inning with a double off the wall in left, scoring two and giving the ‚¬ËœTopes a 4-0 lead.

The four-run cushion proved short-lived as the Grizzlies answered in the bottom of the first with five of their own on a two-run homer by former Isotope Edgar Gonzalez and a three-run blast by Conor Gillespie that quickly put Fresno ahead 5-4.

The Grizz added two more runs in the second on the second two-run homer by Gonzalez in as many at-bats before the ‚¬ËœTopes answered in the top of the third. With a runner on second and two out, pinch-hitter Tim Federowicz belted an RBI ground rule double before coming home on an infield single by Gibbons to bring Albuquerque to within 7-6.

With one swing of the bat in the fourth, the ‚¬ËœTopes seized the lead, as Hoffmann hammered a three-run shot to left that put Albuquerque on top 9-7 after just four frames. The red-hot Hoffmann led Albuquerque with four RBI while hitting a homer and a double.

Fresno would erase the two-run deficit and then some in the sixth, sending 14 men to the plate in an eight-run frame that blew the game wide open. Brandon Belt got the Grizzlies going with a three-run homer that made the score 10-9 before Hector Sanchez added a two-run single to increase the home team's lead to 12-9. Still, Fresno was not finished, as relief pitcher Steve Edlefsen knocked in a run with a bunt single before Gonzalez added his fifth RBI of the night with a base knock that made the score 14-9 Grizz. Finally, Brett Pill drove in the final run of the frame with an infield single to put Fresno ahead 15-9.

Albuquerque would add a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Gibbons that got the Isotopes into double-digits, but it wasn't enough as the Grizzlies held on for a wild, 15-10 victory.

The Isotopes will continue their series in Fresno with right-hander John Ely (6-5, 5.76) making the start for the ‚¬ËœTopes against Grizzlies lefty Dan Runtzler (2-2, 3.94) in an 8:05 PM MT start from Chukchansi Park.

Albuquerque returns home next Saturday, August 20 for a big, nine-game homestand that includes Cowbell Night, a Birdzerk! Appearance, 50-Cent Hot Dog Night, and ends with back-to-back Fan Appreciations fireworks nights! 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 August 13, 2011


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