PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Zephyrs Top 'Topes, 9-5

Published on July 25, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (54-49) tried but could not dig out of an early hole as the New Orleans Zephyrs (50-53) took the final game of their four-game series, 9-5, on Monday afternoon at Isotopes Park.

New Orleans cracked the scoreboard first with a three-run burst in the third inning. With runners on first and second and one away, Jose Lopez singled to right-center to score Vinny Rottino for a 1-0 Zephyr lead. That brought up Mike Cervenak, who laced a triple to right-center field that plated two more runs, making it 3-0, Z's.

New Orleans then delivered a four-run blow to the ‚¬ËœTopes in the fourth inning. Following a lead-off single from Ozzie Martinez, Tim Torres homered to left-center to give the Zephyrs a 5-0 edge. Three batters later, Lopez struck again with a two-run homer, pushing the Z's lead to 7-0. The visitors would tack on one more run in the top of the fifth via a bases-loaded walk from relief pitcher Adam Dedeaux for an 8-0 advantage.

Albuquerque finally got on the board in their half of the fifth inning. After Trayvon Robinson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Jamie Hoffmann followed with a walk, setting up A.J. Ellis, who ripped a three-run shot, his second homer in four days, to bring the Isotopes to within 8-3. The homer was the first hit of the game surrendered by Z's starter Tom Koehler, who then fired a pitch behind the head of the next batter, Justin Sellers, and was immediately ejected. Robinson was also ejected for arguing from the bench.

The ‚¬ËœTopes continued to climb back into the game in the seventh inning. With runners on the corners and two down, Sellers hammered a double into the gap in left-center plating both base runners and bringing Albuquerque all the way back to within just three runs at 8-5.

After a scoreless eighth for New Orleans, the ‚¬ËœTopes attempted to keep climbing in the bottom half of the inning. Jerry Sands started the rally by lifting a high pop-up that second baseman Lopez lost in the sun and dropped to the dirt for a one-out single, followed by another single from pinch-hitter Jay Gibbons. A walk to Joe Becker loaded the bases and spelled the end of Z's reliever Pete Andrelczyk, who gave way to Sandy Rosario. But the ‚¬ËœTopes were unable to capitalize as Hoffmann struck out and Smith flew out to end the threat. In the ninth, New Orleans tacked on one final run of insurance on a solo homer from Cervenak that would be the final scoring of the afternoon in a 9-5 Zephyrs win.

Zephyrs reliever Darin Downs (1-0) earned the win in relief, giving up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work. ‚¬ËœTopes spot-starter Joe Newby (1-4) suffered the loss.

The ‚¬ËœTopes now head off on an eight-game road swing against the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Zephyrs that begins in Nebraska tomorrow night. Lefty Randy Keisler (6-4, 3.99) makes the start in the series opener for the Isotopes against Chasers southpaw Mike Montgomery (3-6, 5.33) in a 6:05 PM MT start from Werner Park.

Albuquerque will return to Isotopes Park on Wednesday, August 3rd to start another eight-game homestand against the Tacoma Rainiers and Salt Lake Bees which includes a slew of great giveaways like Orbit Banks and Isotopes Hats as well as a fireworks extravaganza. 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 25, 2011


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