PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Tame Grizzlies, 13-6

Published on July 30, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Albuquerque Isotopes (47-63) closed out their homestand with an offensive explosion outslugging the Fresno Grizzlies (54-56) 13-6 Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. Brett Hayes hit his third homer of the series in addition to Kevin Randel's first PCL homer to ignite the offense for the Isotopes en route to the triumph that was delayed 18 minutes because of a city-wide power outage.

Albuquerque jumped on Fresno quickly, as Jai Miller drew a one out walk that set up second baseman Randel, who lined a double to right-center field, driving in Miller for the first run of the game, 1-0.

In the top of the third, the Grizzlies battled back when Justin Leone sparked the offense with a one out single up the middle and immediately stole second while Scott McClain reached after being hit by a pitch. With two men on, Brian Horwitz doubled to left that scored Leone to tie the game up at one while McClain dashed to third. Travis Ishikawa cleared the bases with a single to center that gave the Grizzlies a two-run lead, 3-1.

Manny Mayorson led off the third by legging out an infield single and advanced to second following a Tagg Bozied single to shallow center. A wild pitch thrown by Fresno starter Victor Santos advanced the runners into scoring position for Dallas McPherson, who drew a walk to load the bases. Jason Wood singled to shallow left field driving in Mayorson and advancing the runners 90 feet. Miller continued the hit parade with a single to left-center to drive in Bozied and tie up the game at three, keeping the bases loaded with ‘Topes. Randel knocked in McPherson to reclaim the lead for the Isotopes on a fielder's choice that eliminated Miller at second as Wood coasted into third, 4-3. Hayes added the inning's exclamation point by crushing a 1-0 offering over the left field fence for a three-run homer to extend Albuquerque's lead to four, 7-3.

Mayorson and Bozied led the fourth off with walks for McPherson, who grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that advanced Mayorson to third. Then Wood singled to left field, plating Mayorson for the Isotopes five-run edge, 8-3.

Fresno battled back with a run in the top of the fifth before Albuquerque's offense kept on hammering in the bottom fifth when Randel led the inning off with a solo blast over the right-center field wall, making the score 9-4. Pinch hitter Andrew Beattie singled up the middle then sprinted to second following a single hit by Tommy Murphy. With two men on, Mayorson sent a fly ball to center that was deep enough to advance Beattie to third. Murphy stole second base, then Bozied legged out an infield single that scored Beattie for the ‘Topes tenth run while Murphy raced to third. McPherson added a single to right-center, driving in Murphy and giving Albuquerque a seven-run advantage, 11-4.

In the seventh, Mayorson lined a one out double down the left field line then sprinted the final 180 feet to score the ‘Topes twelfth run when Bozied doubled to left-center field. McPherson added a single to left that forced Bozied to third, then Wood cracked a sacrifice to center that scored Bozied for Albuquerque's thirteenth run, 13-4.

In between an eighteen minute delay in the bottom of the eighth when the lights went out across the city of Albuquerque due to a transponder failure, the Grizzlies tacked on runs in the eighth and ninth that brought Fresno within six before reliever Brandon Villafuerte completed the game for the 13-6 Isotopes triumph.

Albuquerque will embark on an eight-game Pacific northwest journey with a four-game series against the Portland Beavers, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Taking the ball for the ‘Topes will be right hander Bobby Keppel (7-11, 6.29) against Beavers righty Joshua Greer (6-7, 4.08) at PGE Park. First pitch set for 8:05 PM MDT.

The Isotopes begin an eight-game road trip tomorrow but will return to the friendly confines of Isotopes Park on Friday, August 8th for a four-game set against the Oklahoma RedHawks, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Tickets can be purchased at Isotopes Park or any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or Ticketmaster by phone 505-883-7800. For more information, visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com or call 505-924-2255.

Check out the Albuquerque Isotopes Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2008


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