August 31 Game Notes

Albuquerque Isotopes (69-69) at Memphis Redbirds (73-64)     

Probable Pitchers:
ALB- LHP Randy Keisler (7-7, 4.97 ERA)
MEM- RHP Brandon Broderick (7-6, 5.19 ERA)

Click here for 8-31-11_Notes

August 30 Game Notes

Albuquerque Isotopes (68-69) at Memphis Redbirds (73-63)     

Probable Pitchers:
ALB- RHP Mike Parisi (5-1, 5.53 ERA)
MEM- RHP Maikel Cleto (5-2, 3.74 ERA)

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August 29 Game Notes

Albuquerque Isotopes (68-68) at Memphis Redbirds (72-63)     

Probable Pitchers:
ALB- RHP Francisco Felix (3-2, 6.34 ERA)
MEM- RHP Adam Ottavino (6-8, 5.12 ERA)

Click here for 8-29-11_Notes

The Isotopes (68-68) charged back from a 7-0 deficit to within one run of the Round Rock Express, but after eight innings and a one hour, 13-minute delay due to rain and lightning, the game was called and the Express walked away with a 7-6 win on Sunday night at Isotopes Park.

Round Rock jumped ahead, 3-0, with a three-run homer from Jose Ruiz in the second inning. The visitors then tacked one run on in the fourth and had another three-run burst in the fifth to grab a 7-0 advantage. But Albuquerque fought back with five runs in their half of the sixth inning. Jay Gibbons singled to right to plate Ivan De Jesus, Jr. and make it 7-1, and two batters later with the bases loaded, Jerry Sands hit a grand slam to left-center field to cut Round Rock’s lead to 7-5.

Sands led off the ‘Topes eighth with a single and two batters later, he came home on a one-out RBI single from Tim Federowicz, making it 7-6. That was followed by a single from John Lindsey, but that would be as far as the ‘Topes got in that inning as Kyle Russell and De Jesus grounded out. At that point, the game was put under delay and, eventually, it was called due to lightning in the area.

Here are Sunday’s Three Stars of the Game for your Isotopes:

1. Jerry Sands, 1B (3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, two runs scored)

After earning the Isotopes’ PNM Power Hitter of the Year award before Sunday’s game, Sands showed he was worthy of the honor as his sixth-inning grand slam made it a ball game again Sunday night.

2. Jay Gibbons, RF (2-for-4, RBI, one run scored)

Gibbons contributed to Albuquerque’s five-run sixth with a RBI single that got the ‘Topes on the board, and also helped lead to Sands’ grand slam later in the frame.

3. Tim Federowicz, C (1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB)

Federowicz continued his solid play as of late with his RBI single in the eighth that got Albuquerque within one run after being down by seven in the contest.

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

August 28 Game Notes

Round Rock Express (80-55) at Albuquerque Isotopes (68-67)     

Probable Pitchers:
RR- RHP Mark Hamburger (7-4, 3.94 ERA)
ALB- RHP John Ely (7-6, 5.56 ERA)

Click here for 8-28-11_Notes

The Isotopes (68-67) opened up a tight affair with two runs in the sixth inning and four runs in the seventh that proved helpful in an 8-3 victory over the Round Rock Express on Saturday night at Isotopes Park.

Albuquerque went up 1-0 in the first on a RBI single from Jerry Sands, and after the Express pulled even with a run of their own in the top of the second, the ‘Topes went ahead again, 2-1, in their half of the second as a Kyle Russell walk and Damaso Espino single set up Ivan Ochoa, who hit into a double play that still plated Russell.

The ‘Topes stretched their lead to 4-1 in the sixth as Russell socked a one-out, solo home run (his first Triple-A dinger) and Ivan De Jesus, Jr. singled with two away to score Espino. Then in the seventh, Albuquerque sealed the game with a four-run burst that featured back-to-back RBI doubles from Jay Gibbons and Russ Mitchell, a RBI single from Jerry Sands, and another RBI double from Russell. Round Rock scored two in the eighth to cut the ‘Topes’ edge to 8-3, but that would be as close as they’d get.

Here are Saturday’s Three Stars of the Game for your Isotopes:

1. Kyle Russell, RF (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, two runs scored)

The solo homer from the Isotopes’ newest member triggered a six-run outburst over the next two frames for Albuquerque.

2. Alberto Bastardo, P (6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 4 K)

It’s not easy to chain down Round Rock’s strong offense, but Bastardo did the job and improved to 4-2 on the season, lowering his ERA to 5.59 (it was at 6.03 going into Saturday).

3. Jerry Sands, 1B (2-for-4, 2 RBI, one run scored)

Sands is now at 81 RBI on the season after his two RBI base hits on Saturday.

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

August 27 Game Notes

Round Rock Express (80-54) at Albuquerque Isotopes (67-67)     

Probable Pitchers:
RR- LHP Martin Perez (3-3, 6.28 ERA)
ALB- LHP Alberto Bastardo (3-2, 6.03 ERA)

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Randy Keisler threw seven shutout innings and received plenty of run support in return as the Isotopes (67-67) blanked the Round Rock Express, 9-0, on Friday night at Isotopes Park.

Keisler gave up just three hits over his seven innings of work, striking out eight and walking just one along the way. The ‘Topes offense was equally as strong, jumping ahead 3-0 in the first on a RBI single from Russ Mitchell and a two-run double from John Lindsey.

Albuquerque scored one more in the third to make it 4-0, then lowered the boom on the Express with a four-run fourth that saw them go up 8-0 on back-to-back-to-back RBI hits from Ivan De Jesus, Jr. (two-run triple), Joe Becker (RBI triple) and Russ Mitchell (RBI single). Mitchell struck again in the sixth with another RBI single that capped the night’s scoring.

Here are Friday’s Three Stars of the Game for your Isotopes:

1. Randy Keisler, P (7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 8 K, 1 BB)

Keisler has now thrown 13 straight shutout innings against the Express this season; in his last appearance against Round Rock on June 6, he blanked them for six frames and scattered six hits in an 11-0 victory.

2. Russ Mitchell, 1B (3-for-5, 4 RBI, one run scored)

Mitchell manufactured three of the ‘Topes runs with singles and another on a groundout in the third inning, which was set up by Becker’s first of two triples on the night.

3. Ivan De Jesus, Jr. (2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, three runs scored)

After a two-homer effort last night, De Jesus picked right up again with a two-run triple that triggered Albuquerque’s game-sealing, four-run fourth inning. He also led off the Isotopes’ three-run first with a single that had him advance to third on a Round Rock fielding error.

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

August 26 Game Notes

Round Rock Express (80-53) at Albuquerque Isotopes (66-67)     

Probable Pitchers:
RR- LHP Martin Perez (3-3, 6.28 ERA)
ALB- LHP Randy Keisler (6-7, 5.34 ERA)

Click here for 8-26-11_Notes

After getting tagged for 16 runs on Wednesday night, the Isotopes (66-67) returned the favor as Ivan De Jesus, Jr.’s two home runs paced Albuquerque in a 13-3 romp over the Round Rock Express on Thursday night at Isotopes Park. De Jesus swatted a solo shot in the first inning and then cranked a grand slam in the seventh inning that put the game away.

Round Rock jumped ahead with three runs in the first, but after De Jesus cut the lead to 3-1, the ‘Topes followed up with five runs in their half of the second to take the point for good. That would be enough support for ‘Topes starting pitcher Mike Parisi, who bounced back from his tough first inning to hold the Express scoreless on just two hits until his exit with two gone in the seventh. In the bottom of that inning, with the ‘Topes now up 8-3, De Jesus hit his grand slam after a single from John Lindsey and walks from Tim Federowicz and Ivan Ochoa loaded the bases for him.

Here are Thursday’s Three Stars of the Game for your Isotopes:

1. Ivan De Jesus, Jr., 2B (3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, three runs scored)

For the second time in six days, De Jesus turned in a two-homer game, and while it wasn’t quite as dramatic as his two-homer game last Saturday against Memphis (which was won for the ‘Topes on his second homer that night), it was still a sight to see.

2. Mike Parisi, P (6.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K)

The Express touched Parisi for three runs on two hits in the first, but the ‘Topes’ starting pitcher settled down and let only three Round Rock batters on base for the rest of his night.

3. Jerry Sands, LF (4-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, two runs scored)

Sands continued to turn up the power during this homestand, contributing a three-run homer (his 27th long ball of the year) to the Isotopes’ five-run second. He’s hit three dingers in the last four nights.

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