PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes Trounced by Memphis 11-4

Published on July 18, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


Despite Elian Herrera tying the franchise record with a hit in 19 consecutive contests, the Albuquerque Isotopes (55-41) were handed an 11-4 loss by the Memphis Redbirds (36-60) on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. With Oklahoma City winning its game tonight, the 'Topes now fall to a game back in the PCL American Southern Division.

In his second at-bat, Herrera ripped a single to short that extended his hitting streak to 19 games and tied him with Eric Reed (2006) and Jamie Hoffmann (2010) for the longest streaks ever amassed by an Isotopes player.

Memphis snagged the lead in the fourth inning and never looked back as Eugenio Velez smacked a leadoff double and scored on an RBI single from Cedric Hunter to make it 1-0. Velez is now batting .400 (14x35) with nine RBI against his former team this season. Pete Kozma then poked an RBI single up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error from Scott Van Slyke. Bryan Anderson followed with a one-out walk, setting the stage for Adron Chambers, who blasted a two-run double to extend the lead 4-0.

The visitors made it 6-0 with two runs in the fifth off a two-run shot from Matt Adams, and one more in the sixth off an RBI single from Shane Robinson before the 'Topes found the scoreboard. In the bottom half of the frame, Alex Castellanos extended his season-high 12-game hitting streak with a leadoff double and scored one batter later on an RBI single from Josh Fields to bring the Isotopes within 7-1.

'Birds starter John Gast (8-2) managed to keep the 'Topes off balance, allowing just one run on seven hits through his 7.0 frames of work. The southpaw also fanned four while walking none on the evening.

The Redbirds then pounded out a pair of runs in the eighth off back-to-back RBI singles from Adams and Velez to widen the gap 9-1. Albuquerque cut the deficit to 9-2 in its half of the eighth when Castellanos singled to left, took second on defensive indifference and scored on an RBI single from Fields. With his 3-for-4 performance that included two doubles and two RBI, Fields now has driven in 17 runs in his last 12 contests.

Memphis padded its lead in the ninth with a pinch-hit RBI single from Ryan Jackson and a sac-fly from Chambers that made the score 11-2. The 'Topes then finally showed signs of life with a short-lived rally in the ninth that began with a leadoff single from Tim Federowicz, who was immediately plated with a two-run dinger from Brian Cavazos-Galvez to bring the Isotopes within 11-4. However, Redbirds reliever Brian Broderick settled down to silence the comeback and send Memphis coasting to an 11-4 win.

Isotopes ace John Ely (8-7) was saddled with the loss and allowed more than four runs for the first time since his season opener on April 9. The righty did, however, extend his PCL-best strikeout count to 123 with six punchouts on the night.

Albuquerque and Memphis will resume their series tomorrow with the third contest of a four-game set. 'Topes southpaw Derrick Loop (8-2, 4.97) will get the ball against 'Birds left-hander Tyler Lyons (1-4, 4.93) in a 7:05 PM start from The Lab.

The Isotopes eight-game homestand rolls on with two more games against Memphis, before the second of two replica jersey giveaways on Friday and the return of Dukes Retro Night on Saturday! 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 .

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 18, 2012


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