PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Topes Survive Late Rally

Published on May 4, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Three New Orleans defensive miscues in the seventh inning and a six-run eighth paved the way for an 11-8 Albuquerque (16-12) victory over the Redbirds (12-14). SS Dee Gordon led the charge, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, a double, a run scored and another stolen base. The game was played in front of a 2013 record crowd of 11,056.

Albuquerque right-handed starting pitcher Matt Palmer and New Orleans RHP Jacob Turner locked horns early putting zeros on the board from the second to fourth inning. Palmer allowed just one hit through the first four innings but New Orleans pushed two across in the fifth, his final frame. The Memphis native struck out four batters against two walks and allowed three hits.

Gordon showed off his speed from the onset of the game bunting for a single and stealing second base with 2B Elian Herrera (1-for-4) at the plate. Gordon has swiped a bag two nights in a row and leads the Pacific Coast League with 14. Herrera reached on a bunt single advancing Gordon to third for CF Matt Angle (3 RBI). Angle lofted a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Gordon for the game's first run.

Turner helped his team's offensive cause in the fifth inning collecting the Zephyrs third hit and the team's first two RBI. With two outs in the inning, Turner dumped a sinking liner into right field scoring catcher Kyle Skipworth and SS Wilson Valdez giving New Orleans a 2-1 lead. Skipworth reached on a walk and Valdez hit his first double of the season in the frame.

Albuquerque evened the score at two in the sixth inning. Catcher Tim Federowicz (2-for-5, 2R) singled to begin the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by RF Chili Buss. 1B Rusty Ryal (1-for-4), the next hitter, came through driving Federowicz home on his fifth double on the season. New Orleans grabbed the lead right back in their half of the seventh. After Skipworth singled to lead off, Turner turned on a pitch for a double scoring Skipworth. CF Kevin Mattison capped the scoring singling home Turner for a 4-2 lead.

The Topes took advantage of two errors and a wild pitch to take a 5-4 lead in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Ozzie Martinez led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Gordon. SS Wilson Valdez's error off the bat of Herrera put runners on the corner and an Angle RBI single and wild pitch by Turner allowing Herrera to score knotted the game at four. Albuquerque then took their first lead since the first inning when Federowicz came in on an error by 1B Ben Lasater on a ball hit by Buss. Federowicz reached on his first triple of the season.

Albuquerque tacked on six more runs in the eighth putting the game to bed. Aside from Gordon's RBI double, Buss knocked two in on a single and Matt Angle walked forcing in a run. Tony Gwynn Jr. kept the hit parade in motion with a two-run single before the inning ended.

Isotopes southpaw Aaron Laffey made his first appearance for Albuquerque since being signed by the Dodgers on April 30th. Laffey (1-0, 0.00) gave up two hits and a walk, but struck out two in two-thirds of an inning and earned the win. LHP Kelvin pitched 1.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits. RHP Steve Ames pitched a perfect eighth inning and RHP Chris Withrow allowed four unearned runs in the ninth before Moylan came in to get the game's final out and first save.

Turner was outstanding for much of the game from the rubber and the plate going 3-for-3 while driving in three of the Zephyrs four runs. Turner went 6.1 innings surrendering four runs, two earned, on eight hits. He did not allow a run until the fifth. Southpaw Dan Jennings took the loss (1-2, 2.81) allowing one unearned run in the seventh.

The Isotopes and Zephyrs will match up for a second time this season tomorrow, Saturday May 4 at 7:05 from Isotopes Park. RHP Angel Castro (2-1, 2.52) will toe the rubber for Albuquerque against New Orleans southpaw Duane Below (1-0, 3.60) . Catch all of the game action on 610 "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.

Tickets are on sale now at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through Ticketmaster by phone at (800) 745-3000, or online at www.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For information, please call (505) 924-2255.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 4, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central