PCL1 Albuquerque Isotopes

Z's Down Isotopes 9-6 In Front Of Record Crowd

Published on July 5, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


A record throng of 15,189 packed Isotopes Park only to see their beloved Albuquerque Isotopes (39-49) fall 9-6 to the New Orleans Zephyrs (41-48) on an Independence Day Friday at The Lab. Andrew Beattie and Tagg Bozied each homered for the 'Topes, who mounted a ninth inning comeback that fell just short in front of the largest crowd in franchise history, shattering the old mark of 15,020 set two seasons ago. The loss is Albuquerque's season-high seventh in a row and is the team's longest skid since 2006.

New Orleans built a lead early, plating a run in the first before scoring four in the third in a rally facilitated by Isotope wildness. Andy Green led things off with a single and immediately scored on a double by Raul Casanova to increase the lead to 2-0. Starter Gaby Hernandez then walked Valentino Pascucci before surrendering another single to John Rodriguez that loaded the bases. Gustavo Molina then walked with the bases juiced to send home Casanova and give the Zephyrs a 3-0 edge. Hernandez would then give way to reliever Scott Nestor, who struck out Anderson Hernandez before Abraham Nunez drew another bases loaded free pass that chased home Pascucci to make the score 4-0. Finally, Z's pitcher Claudio Vargas bounced into a groundout that plated Rodriguez to cap the four run frame and send New Orleans to a 5-0 lead.

The Zephyrs struck again in the seventh with a two-run homer by Rodriguez before the Isotopes came to life in the bottom of the frame. John Baker ignited the rally with a lead-off single in front of Beattie, who blasted a monstrous homer over the scoreboard in left to trim the New Orleans lead to 7-2. Lorenzo Scott added a single and advanced to second on a pinch-hit walk by John Gall before scampering to third on a fielder's choice by newest Isotope Tommy Murphy. With runners on the corners and one out, Jai Miller lined a single through the hole at short to score Scott and cut the advantage to 7-3 Z's.

New Orleans would add what proved to be pivotal insurance runs in the eighth and again in the ninth to grab a 9-3 cushion before Albuquerque mounted one last desperate rally in the bottom of the ninth. Murphy led off the inning with a double and scored two batters later on a single by Chris Barnwell. After a groundout brought the Isotopes to their final out, Bozied hammered a deep, two-run home run that hugged the foul pole in left field and brought Albuquerque back to within three runs at 9-6. That's where the rally would end, however, as New Orleans reliever Carlos Muniz retired Baker on a line out to short to end the game.

Vargas (2-1) earned the win for the Z's after five shutout innings in which he walked just one and struck out seven. Hernandez (2-8) suffered his fifth straight loss after his two-plus innings in which he yielded five runs on four hits while walking four and striking out one.

Albuquerque will look to get back in the win column for the first time since June 28 behind ace right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (9-3, 4.12), who will battle New Orleans righty Brandon Knight (2-1, 2.21) at 7:05 PM at Isotopes Park.

The Isotopes continue their Independence Day weekend celebration with a Fifth of July Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Alltel, which will be followed by the Albuquerque Journal's fourth pre-game autograph session featuring Isotopes infielder Chris Barnwell on Sunday, July 6th. Tickets for the rest of the short, July 4th weekend series that includes post-game fireworks on July 5th, can be purchased at Isotopes Park or any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or Ticketmaster by phone 505-883-7800. For more information on individual game tickets, season tickets, or mini-plans, visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com or call 505-924-2255.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 5, 2008


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