The Isotopes (54-47) had to stave off a furious late rally from the New Orleans Zephyrs (48-53) but managed to take their fourth win in a row, downing the Z’s, 11-10, in front of 13,411 on Dukes Retro Night at Isotopes Park. The victory also enabled the ‘Topes to pull within four games of first-place Round Rock in the PCL’s American Southern Division.

Albuquerque held an 11-5 lead through seven innings, but New Orleans put up three runs in the eighth inning and then tacked on two more in the ninth on back-to-back, bases-loaded walks from Vinny Rottino and Joe Thurston with one out. But ‘Topes reliever Roy Corcoran managed to stop the surging Zephyrs by inducing a double play from Jose Lopez to end the contest.

Here are the Three Stars of the game for your Isotopes:

1. Dee Gordon, SS (4-for-5, two RBI, three runs scored)

Gordon’s second hit of the night, a two-out RBI single in the second inning, helped draw the ‘Topes even at 3-3, and he got his other RBI on another base hit in the fifth. He also collected hits in the first and seventh to round out a strong night at the plate.

2. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., 3B (3-for-4, two RBI, BB, one run scored)

DeJesus gave the ‘Topes a 4-3 lead in the second inning — which they would not relinquish despite New Orleans’ late uprising — with an RBI single to right-center, and then chalked up another run-scoring single in the seventh to make it 11-5, ‘Topes.

3. Justin Sellers, 2B (2-for-4, two RBI, BB, three runs scored)

The ‘Topes tallied four runs in their half of the third inning to take an 8-3 lead, and two of those runs came off the bat of Sellers as he knocked his 11th home run of the season and his second in as many nights.

Random Tidbit: The ‘Topes are now 6-1 in Dukes Retro Night contests, which started in 2005. Indeed, on these nights, they’re comin’ out swingin’.

For a full recap of tonight’s contest, check out AlbuquerqueBaseball.com!

July 23 Game Notes

New Orleans Zephyrs (48-52) at Albuquerque Dukes (53-47)    

Probable Pitchers:
N.O.- RHP Adalberto Mendez (1-6, 6.67 ERA)
ALB- RHP Mike Parisi (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Click here for 7-23-11_Notes

The Isotopes (53-47) overcame the loss of a six-run lead and came from behind to defeat the New Orleans Zephyrs (48-52), 12-10, in a Friday night slugfest at Isotopes Park that featured 30 hits between the two teams.

The Z’s put up five runs in the top of the sixth to draw within 9-8 and after a scoreless seventh for both squads, they put up two more in the top of the eighth to take a 10-9 edge. But in the ‘Topes’ half of the eighth, Justin Sellers launched a solo home run to tie the game at 10-10. Two batters later, A.J. Ellis singled to set-up Jay Gibbons, who then rocked a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to put Albuquerque up, 12-10. ‘Topes closer Jon Link did the rest in the ninth, rolling through the Zephyrs 1-2-3 to pick up his ninth save of the year.

Here are the Three Stars of the Game for your Isotopes:

1. Jay Gibbons, RF (2-for-4, HR, two RBI, BB, two runs scored)

No surprise who gets the top star tonight as Gibbons’ two-run blast in the eighth inning proved to be the big moment of the game. Gibbons’ homer was his fifth of the season.

2. A.J. Ellis, C (4-for-4, HR, four RBI, three runs scored)

Ellis had a stellar Friday night that was highlighted not only by his key single in the eighth that set the stage for Gibbons’ critical homer, but also his first home run of the year. The two-run bomb came in the fourth inning and put the ‘Topes up, 7-2.

3. Justin Sellers, 2B (2-for-2, HR, one RBI, one run scored)

Sellers didn’t enter the game until the sixth inning, but he quickly made an impact with a single in the sixth and then his game-tying home run to left-center in the eighth.

Honorable Mention: Trayvon Robinson, LF (2-for-5, HR, four RBI, two runs scored)

Robinson just keeps on knocking big flies out of the park. His 26th homer of the season was a three-run blast that gave a 4-0 lead to the ‘Topes in the first inning. He also notched an RBI triple in the fifth.

For a full recap of tonight’s game, be sure to check out AlbuquerqueBaseball.com!

July 22 Game Notes

New Orleans Zephyrs (48-51) at Albuquerque Isotopes (52-47)    

Probable Pitchers:
N.O.- RHP Chris Sampson (6-0, 2.82 ERA)
ALB- RHP John Ely (6-4, 5.19 ERA)

Click here for 7-22-11_Notes

The Isotopes (52-47) finally solved the Oklahoma City RedHawks (42-57) in a pair of seven-inning contests Thursday night at Isotopes Park, taking an 8-4 win in Game 1 and then earning a four-game series split with the ‘Hawks via a 6-1 triumph in Game 2. Even more importantly, the ‘Topes picked up 1.5 games on Round Rock in the PCL’s American Southern division (they now stand six games back of the Express) as well as momentum going into their next four-game set against New Orleans, which starts tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. MT.

With the doubleheader, we’ve got two sets of Three Stars for your Isotopes. Let’s get started with Game One:

1. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., 2B (3-for-4, three RBI, one run scored)

After the RedHawks tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the fourth inning, the ‘Topes quickly answered in their half of the frame by loading the bases to set-up DeJesus, Jr. for a two-run single to right-center that put Albuquerque ahead for good.

2. Dee Gordon, SS (2-for-3, one RBI, one BB, one run scored)

Gordon’s two-out RBI triple was his contribution to Albuquerque’s four-run second inning. He also managed a bunt single in the sixth inning that triggered a two-run, game-sealing sixth inning for the ‘Topes.

3. Russ Mitchell (2-for-4, one RBI, one run scored)

Mitchell’s single in the second inning made it a franchise-record eight straight at-bats with a hit for him, and enabled him to join Robert Andino (June 7-9, 2007) and John Gall (June 14-15, 2008) as the third Isotope to pull the feat.

And now, your stars for Game Two:

1. Dana Eveland, P (6 IP, 1 R (1 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K)

The Pacific Coast League All-Star had another stellar outing to notch his tenth win of 2011, being quite efficient (60 of his 85 pitches went for strikes) and inducing eight ground outs to supplement his fanning of seven RedHawk batters.

2. Jamie Hoffmann, CF (2-for-3, RBI, two runs scored)

Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, the ‘Topes scored four runs in the frame to pull away. One of those four runs came off the bat of Hoffmann, who singled to score Trayvon Robinson from second to give Albuquerque a 4-1 edge.

3. Jerry Sands, RF (2-for-3, RBI, two runs scored)

Sands got the ‘Topes on the board first with a two-out solo home run in the first inning, then led off their big sixth with a single to right-center. He came home on an RBI triple from Mitchell, beginning the outburst.

For a full recap of tonight’s doubleheader, head over to AlbuquerqueBaseball.com!

July 21 Game Notes

Oklhoma City RedHawks (42-55) at Albuquerque Isotopes (50-47)    

Probable Pitchers- Game 1:
OKC- RHP Brad Hennessey (0-2, 6.59 ERA)
ALB- LHP Randy Keisler (5-4, 3.76 ERA)

Probable Pitchers- Game 2:
OKC- LHP Xavier Cedeno (0-0, No ERA)
ALB- LHP Dana Eveland (9-5, 3.62 ERA)

Click here for 7-21-11_Notes

July 20 Game Notes

Oklhoma City RedHawks (42-55) at Albuquerque Isotopes (50-47)    

Probable Pitchers:
OKC- RHP Brad Hennessey (0-2, 6.59 ERA)
ALB- LHP Randy Keisler (5-4, 3.76 ERA)

Click here for 7-20-11_Notes

The Oklahoma City RedHawks (42-55) came from behind again to defeat the Isotopes (50-47), scoring nine unanswered runs to erase a 5-0 ‘Topes lead and win 9-5 on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. Oklahoma City took the lead for good with a three-run burst in the sixth inning that put them up 6-5, and then tacked on one run in the eighth and two in the ninth for the final margin of victory.

Here are the Three Stars of the game for your Isotopes:

1. Trayvon Robinson, LF (2-for-4, three RBI, one run scored)

The PCL All-Star continued his big-hitting ways with a two-run home run in the fourth inning (his 25th of the season) and also chipped in another RBI with a single that plated Russ Mitchell in the first inning.

2. Russ Mitchell, 1B (2-for-2, two RBI, two BB, two runs scored)

Mitchell’s gone white-hot at the plate recently and Tuesday was no different as he collected a two-run double in the first inning and a single in the eighth. In his last six games, he’s been batting at a .524 clip (11×21) with six runs scored, three doubles, two homers and six RBI.

3. Ivan De Jesus, Jr., 2B (1-for-4, one run scored)

De Jesus played a role in a three-run first inning for Albuquerque, collecting the Isotopes’ first hit of the night and scoring their first run as well on Mitchell’s two-run double (which also drove in Jerry Sands).

For a full recap of tonight’s game, be sure to visit AlbuquerqueBaseball.com!

July 19 Game Notes

Oklhoma City RedHawks (41-55) at Albuquerque Isotopes (50-46)    

Probable Pitchers:
OKC- LHP Andy Van Hekken (4-4, 2.97 ERA)
ALB- RHP Tim Sexton (3-3, 5.06 ERA)

Click here for 7-19-11_Notes