PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

'Topes win 8-4

Published on August 23, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (72-56) built up a sizable lead early for Major League veteran Vicente Padilla en route to an 8-4 series-opening win on Saturday night over the Nashville Sounds (65-63). Luis Maza went a perfect 4-for-4 and Dee Brown supplied three RBI as the ‘Topes extended their lead in the American Southern division to eight games thanks to an Oklahoma City loss at Omaha.

After Padilla sat the Sounds down in order in the top of the first, Albuquerque pieced together three straight singles to start the home half of the frame. Sergio Garcia and Maza delivered base knocks to left before Hector Luna plated Garcia on a single of his own and a Brown groundout sent in Maza for a quick 2-0 ‘Topes lead.

Padilla put two runners aboard in the second with no outs only to come away unscathed retiring the next three he faced. The Isotopes then exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame with the same characters in the mix as Maza singled and Luna doubled to open the inning. Brown cashed the two in on the first of two doubles he recorded on the night to extend the advantage to 4-0 Albuquerque. Jamie Hoffman then delivered Brown with a single to right field before crossing home on an A.J. Ellis single up the middle two batters later to make the score 6-0.

Padilla faced four batters each in the third and fourth innings before the fifth presented his only real blemish, a two-run home run to right from Adam Stern that put the Sounds on the board 6-2. The Nashville runs came an inning after the ‘Topes had two runners thrown out at home on the same play. A deep shot to center from Brown with Maza and Luna again on board seemingly spelled two runs, but as the throw was relayed in and Luna barely trailing Maza, the two were nabbed at the plate simultaneously, robbing Brown and the ‘Topes of two more RBIs.

The ‘Topes eventually knocked in two more tallies, however, using a Luna single in the sixth to score Garcia, who walked to open in the inning. After Brent Leach held the Sounds scoreless in the sixth and Tim Corcoran tossed a scoreless seventh, Nashville garnered two runs in the eighth off Corcoran with two RBI doubles from Adam Heether and Erick Almonte. Despite the two runs and a walk in the frame, Corcoran still struck out the side.

Albuquerque pushed across one more for good measure in the eighth using a single from Closser, chasing home Maza with his game-high third run scored to make the score at 8-4. Maza and Luna combined to reach base in each at-bat and collect seven of Albuquerque's 15 hits.

Padilla (1-0), who has already been tabbed to start for the Dodgers on Thursday, benefitted from the ‘Topes early offense picking up the win after allowing just three hits over five innings while striking out five.

Will Ohman sealed the Sounds' seventh straight loss with a scoreless ninth, stranding two runners to end the game.

Albuquerque will look its hot streak going tomorrow with lefty Scott Elbert (1-1, 4.74) on the hill for the ‘Topes facing Nashville southpaw Chase Wright (7-7, 4.24) in a 6:05 PM MT affair from Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes continue their 13-game homestand, the longest in team history, with a seat cushion giveaway to the first 3,000 fans tomorrow courtesy of Mattress Firm. 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 August 23, 2009


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