PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Take Two from Zephyrs

Published on June 22, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (43-32) earned two wins in one day, overcoming a three-run deficit in the resumption of a suspended contest and getting a masterful performance from John Ely in the following game to earn 7-5 and 8-4 wins respectively over the New Orleans Zephyrs (38-36) on Friday night at Isotopes Park. The 'Topes have now won three games in a row, and six of their last eight.

Starter Ely (8-4) was masterful on the mound in the nightcap, allowing only a single run in the first inning before shutting the Z's down until the seventh. The righty retired 17 of the first 20 batters he faced, walking one and fanning six to extend his PCL-leading strikeout count to 94. Ely finished the evening allowing four runs on five hits through 6.1 innings of work, and with the win, has now triumphed each of his last four starts.

After New Orleans, for the fourth time in as many games, found the scoreboard in the first inning, the 'Topes responded quickly in the bottom half of the frame with Trent Oeltjen smacking a leadoff single to right and scoring on an RBI double from Alex Castellanos. The second baseman now has hits in 10 consecutive games, collecting 16 hits during that span with eight RBI.

Albuquerque struck again in the third with back-to-back singles from Castellanos and Josh Fields, putting runners on the corners for Scott Van Slyke, who belted a sac-fly to center that scored the runner from third and made the score 2-1. Luis Cruz then blasted a two-run dinger to left that extended the 'Topes' lead, 4-1. The sizzling hot Cruz now has hits in 17 of his last 20 games, nine of which have been multi-hit performances.

The home team padded its lead with four more runs in the sixth, which ultimately proved to be essential, as New Orleans tallied three in the seventh to bring the game within 8-4. After Ely retired from the contest with one out in the seventh, 'Topes reliever Angel Guzman coaxed a double play grounder to close out the 8-4 seven-inning win.

The first game picked up in the fifth with the Zephyrs on top 2-0. Derrick Loop (6-2) took the mound to resume the previously rain-suspended contest from Thursday night, and immediately yielded an RBI double to left that extended the visitor's lead 3-0.

The Isotopes then erupted for four runs in the fifth, beginning with a leadoff double from Brian Cavazos-Galvez, who scored two batters later on an RBI single from Matt Angle to narrow the deficit 3-1. Castellanos was then plunked by a pitch from Zephyrs righty J.D. Martin, putting another runner on for Van Slyke, who crushed a three-run homer that gave the 'Topes a 4-3 edge.

New Orleans grabbed the lead again the sixth off a two-run double from Mike Cervenak to pull ahead 5-4. However, the lead wouldn't last as Cavazos-Galvez blasted a two-run home run that put the home team ahead for good 6-5.

Albuquerque added a final insurance run in the seventh with a solo shot from Fields, sending the game out of reach 7-5.

After 'Topes reliever Ramon Troncoso authored 2.0 scoreless innings, closer Josh Wall (16) slammed the door on the Z's to preserve a 7-5 Isotopes victory.

Tomorrow, Albuquerque will now welcome the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-game set at Isotopes Park. 'Topes southpaw Michael Antonini (1-5, 5.14) takes the mound against Nashville right-hander Mark Rogers (2-4, 5.68) in a 7:05 start from The Lab.

The Isotopes action-packed homestand continues with fireworks tomorrow night followed by an appearance by Rally on Sunday. 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 22, 2012


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