PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Ripped by Rizzo in 3-2 I-Cubs Win

Published on June 17, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (40-31) saw a one-run, seventh inning lead evaporate with one swing of slugger Anthony Rizzo's bat as the Iowa Cubs (30-41) rallied for a 3-2 win on a Father's Day Sunday afternoon at Principal Park. The loss snaps a three-game Isotopes winning streak but Albuquerque still departs Des Moines having taken three of four games from the I-Cubs.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Iowa started its rally with a leadoff single by Alfredo Amezaga off "˜Topes reliever Derek Loop. After a sacrifice moved Amezaga to second, Loop coaxed a fly-out from Major League rehabbing catcher Geovany Soto for a crucial second out. Just one out away from escaping the inning unscathed, Loop delivered a 2-1 pitch that Rizzo, the PCL leader in home runs, crushed over the fence in right to give Iowa an immediate 3-2 lead.

The one-run advantage proved plenty for the Cubs' bullpen as Michael Bowden (1-0) delivered 1.2 scoreless innings en route to the eventual win before handing the ball to Scott Maine (5), who fired a perfect 1.1 innings to nail down his fifth save and the 3-2 Iowa triumph.

Like they had a night earlier, the Isotopes jumped out to a quick lead, plating a pair of the runs in the very first frame. Trent Oeltjen led off the game with a single and immediately raced around to score on a triple by Alex Castellanos that put Albuquerque on the board 1-0. Josh Fields then bounced a ball that was mishandled by first baseman Rizzo for an error as Castellanos scored to make it 2-0 "˜Topes.

Iowa cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame on a lead-off homer by Amezaga and that's the way the score would stay until Iowa's seventh-inning rally.

Once again, starter Michael Antonini ended up with a tough-luck no-decision, going 5.2 strong innings in which he allowed a run on six hits while walking two and striking out five.

Albuquerque will take a well-deserved Monday off before welcoming the New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, into Isotopes Park for a four-game series beginning Tuesday at 7:05 PM. Isotopes righty Fernando Nieve (3-4, 6.85) will get the ball for Albuquerque in the first game against Z's righty Alex Sanabia (5-4, 3.18).

The Isotopes are back home this Tuesday for an action-packed eight-game homestand that includes a rally towel giveaway, free camo hats, and a Saturday fireworks extravaganza. 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 June 17, 2012


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