PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Sweep Birds

Published on July 3, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


A season-high 15,358 relished an Albuquerque Isotopes (43-39) series sweep over the Memphis Redbirds (37-44) as the ‘Topes held on for a 4-3 triumph Friday night at Isotopes Park. The crowd surpasses the previous top attendance of 15,321 set just 10 days ago on June 23.

Dee Brown staked Albuquerque to a lead it would not relinquish and Giancarlo Alvarado paced the ‘Topes pitching staff with seven strikeouts in five innings of work to award the ‘Topes their second sweep of the season.

Brown wasted no time sparking an early lead for Albuquerque with two outs in the bottom of the first. After Blake DeWitt and Jamie Hoffmann drew back-to-back walks, Brown powered a three-run dinger just over the fence in right-center to hand the ‘Topes an early 3-0 advantage.

Memphis's Jon Jay led an effort to put the Redbirds within one after five innings. Jay opened the fourth with a solo shot to left before sending home Matt Pagnozzi with an RBI single in the top of the fifth trimming the score to 3-2 Isotopes.

Albuquerque answered with a run in its portion of the fifth inning, however. Hoffmann slashed a two-out double to left-center and Brown was intentionally walked before J.D. Closser delivered a single to plate Hoffmann and provide a vital insurance run that upped the ‘Topes edge to 4-2.

Memphis would scratch out one more run with a single from Brian Barden in the top of the sixth that scored Brett Wallace, who doubled off reliever Hyang-Nam Choi to begin the inning and put the Redbirds within one at 4-3.

Albuquerque pitching, led by starter Alvarado (6-6), denied the ‘Birds the clutch hit, however. After Alvarado retired the first six batters he faced, Memphis stranded 10 runners over the final seven innings.

For the second night in a row, Albuquerque's starter bested Memphis' in the end as Mitchell Boggs (3-4) also contributed five innings, but the Brown bomb came back to haunt the right-hander who picked up the loss.

Alvarado evened his record picking up the win in a five-inning outing in which he allowed just two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts. Despite walking the leadoff batter in the ninth, Scott Strickland picked up his 16th save and second in as many days pitching a scoreless ninth.

Albuquerque will head to the Music City tomorrow for the first of a four-game series with the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. ‘Topes All-Star pitcher Charlie Haeger (8-5, 3.75) will get the ball for the Isotopes against Sounds righty Tim Dillard (8-3, 3.86) in a 5:00 PM MT start from Greer Stadium.

The ‘Topes hit the road for series in Nashville and Memphis before adjourning for the Triple-A All-Star Break. After the break, the Isotopes will host 20 games in 28 days. 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

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2009


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