August 25 Game Notes

Round Rock Express (80-52) at Albuquerque Isotopes (65-67)     

Probable Pitchers:
RR- LHP Zach Jackson (11-4, 5.64 ERA)
ALB- RHP Mike Parisi (4-1, 5.80 ERA)

Click here for 8-25-11_Notes

The Isotopes’ (65-67) troubles continued on Wednesday night as the Round Rock Express used their big bats to double up Albuquerque, 16-8, at Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes took an early 1-0 lead in the second, which began with a double from Russ Mitchell, continued with a single from Jerry Sands, and yielded the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly from Jamie Hoffmann. But in the fourth, the Express churned out nine runs — three of which came off the first of two homers on the night from designated hitter Chad Tracy — to take a 9-1 edge. Albuquerque put up four runs in the fifth inning as John Lindsey scored on a balk, Brad Coon hit a sacrifice fly, Ivan Ochoa scored on a wild pitch, and Jay Gibbons doubled to center to score Joe Becker. But with their lead cut to 9-5, Round Rock exploded again in the sixth for five runs to ruin any hope of a Isotopes rally.

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

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

Sands’ single in the second helped the team along in hitting the scoreboard first and also hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning that yielded two runs for the ‘Topes. He also muscled his 26th homer of the season over the wall in the ninth.

2. Jamie Hoffmann, CF (1-for-3, 2 RBI)

“Hoffy” used the sac fly to his advantage twice by getting Albuquerque’s first run of the night on one and helping the ‘Topes pull within 16-7 on another in the seventh.

3. Jay Gibbons, RF (1-for-3, RBI, BB, one run scored)

Gibbons’ double in the fifth brought Albuquerque within 9-5 and he also scored on Sands’ sac fly in the seventh.

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

August 24 Game Notes

Round Rock Express (79-52) at Albuquerque Isotopes (65-66)     

Probable Pitchers:
RR- RHP Eric Hurley (8-1, 4.24 ERA)
ALB- LHP Dana Eveland (12-7, 3.96 ERA)

Click here for 8-24-11_Notes

The Isotopes (65-66) have now dropped six of their last eight contests after falling to the Memphis Redbirds (69-61), 8-1, on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. The loss, coupled with a 5-2 Round Rock victory over New Orleans, officially eliminated the ‘Topes from PCL playoff contention and also knocked them below the .500 mark for the first time in 2011.

Memphis scored one run apiece in the first and second before the ‘Topes answered into the bottom of the second with a solo home run from Russ Mitchell that cut the lead to 2-1. But the Redbirds quickly grabbed the momentum back with a three-run third inning that featured a RBI single from Bryan Anderson and a two-run double from Pete Kozma. Memphis scored two more runs in the fourth and one more in the seventh while keeping the ‘Topes to just five hits on offense from the third inning to the finish.

After dropping three of four to Memphis, the ‘Topes now face off against newly-crowned American Southern division champ Round Rock in a five-game set that will close out their home schedule for 2011. The series begins tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. MT.

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

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

Russ rocked his 15th homer of the season off Memphis starter Brandon Dickson in the second, but that would be all the ‘Topes could put up on the scoreboard Tuesday.

2. Joe Becker, 2B (3-for-3, 2B)

Becker had a tidy night at the plate with a single in the second, his ninth double of the year in the fifth, and another base hit in the seventh.

3. Tim Federowicz, C (2-for-4)

Federowicz contributed singles in the second inning (which ended with the ‘Topes stranding him and Becker on base) and the seventh inning. After a slow start offensively in Triple-A, Federowicz is now batting a robust .339 with the ‘Topes.

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

August 23 Game Notes

Memphis Redbirds (68-61) at Albuquerque Isotopes (65-65)     

Probable Pitchers:
MEM- RHP Brandon Broderick (7-9, 3.85 ERA)
ALB- RHP John Ely (7-5, 5.35 ERA)

Click here for 8-23-11_Notes

The Memphis Redbirds (68-61) jumped on the Isotopes (65-65) early, scoring 12 runs in the first three innings to get them rolling to an eventual 16-7 triumph on Monday night at Isotopes Park.

Memphis shot out to a 9-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings, and after the ‘Topes put up two runs in the bottom of the second, the visitors plated three in the third to go up 12-2. The ‘Topes pulled within 12-5 in the fourth inning on a two-run homer from Hoffmann and a double from Damaso Espino that plated Tim Federowicz as Memphis’ Pete Kozma missed the catch, but the ‘Birds promptly scored twice in the fifth and twice again in the seventh before Albuquerque capped the night’s scoring with a two-run homer from Sands in the eighth.

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

1. Jamie Hoffmann, CF (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, one run scored)

Hoffmann was one of just two ‘Topes players with RBIs on a Monday night that saw plenty of hits (12) but not enough runs for Albuquerque. He now has 22 homers and 80 RBI on the season after his three-RBI effort.

2. Jerry Sands, LF (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, three runs scored)

Sands also turned in a solid offensive effort Monday, contributing two doubles (19) in addition to his 25th homer of the season, which came late against Memphis reliever Cory Rauschenberger.

3. Damaso Espino, 1B (2-for-4)

Espino had a decent night at the dish with a single in the second and the aforementioned double that managed to get Federowicz home for the Isotopes’ fifth run of the night.

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

August 22 Game Notes

Memphis Redbirds (67-61) at Albuquerque Isotopes (65-64)     

Probable Pitchers:
MEM- LHP Nick Additon (2-8, 4.92)
ALB- LHP Alberto Bastardo (3-1, 4.94 ERA)

Click here for 8-22-11_Notes

A four-run sixth inning for the Memphis Redbirds (67-61) was the turning point on Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park, as the Isotopes (65-64) were unable to hold on to the lead and eventually fell, 10-5.

The Isotopes held a 4-3 lead through five innings, but the Redbirds took the point for good in the top of the sixth. With two on and two out, Freddie Bynum (pinch-hitting for Memphis starting pitcher Brian Broderick) hit an RBI single to tie the game, and after a walk from Shawn Robinson loaded the bases, Tyler Greene cleared them with a triple to right-center, putting the ‘Birds up, 7-4. Memphis pushed the lead to 8-4 in the seventh, only to have the ‘Topes cut it to 8-5 in their half of the frame on a solo home run from Jay Gibbons. But that would be as far as Albuquerque got, with the visitors putting up one run apiece in the eighth and ninth.

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

1. Jay Gibbons, RF (4-for-5, 3 RBI, two runs)

Gibby had a strong day at the plate, with RBI singles in the first and second inning setting the stage for his solo home run and ninth dinger of the season in the seventh.

2. Jamie Hoffmann, CF (1-for-4, RBI)

Hoffmann’s role in Albuquerque’s three-run first wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. Two batters after Russ Mitchell hit a sacrifice fly to score Ivan De Jesus, Jr. and give the ‘Topes a 2-1 lead, Hoffmann grounded out to plate Jay Gibbons from third, making it 3-1, ‘Topes.

3. Randy Keisler, P (5 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K)

Keisler was not spectacular, but was solid enough against the Redbirds’ offense to leave with the lead after five frames. 43 of the Texan’s 78 pitches went for strikes and he induced eight groundouts.

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

August 21 Game Notes

Memphis Redbirds (66-61) at Albuquerque Isotopes (65-63)     

Probable Pitchers:
MEM- RHP Brian Broderick (6-5, 5.37)
ALB- LHP Randy Keisler (6-7, 5.34 ERA)

Click here for 8-21-11_Notes

The Isotopes (65-63) walked off with a 6-5 win over the Memphis Redbirds (66-61) as Ivan De Jesus, Jr. socked his second home run of the night, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim the victory for Albuquerque.

A frenetic ninth inning began with the ‘Topes up 4-1, but Memphis put up four in their half of the ninth on the strength of an RBI single from Andrew Brown, a groundout from Tyler Greene that scored Brown, and finally, a two-run homer from Nick Stavinoha that put the Redbirds up, 5-4. But the ‘Topes rallied against Memphis reliever Jess Todd, with Brad Coon leading off the bottom of the ninth with a broken-bat single to right. That brought in De Jesus, who had hit a solo homer in the fifth inning, and the Puerto Rican delivered again as he smashed an 0-2 pitch from Todd over the wall in left field to win the game for the ‘Topes.

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

1. Ivan De Jesus, Jr., 2B (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, two runs scored)

A two-homer game will certainly get you a star, but a two-homer game that includes the game-winning jack that capped one of the most exciting Isotope victories of the season? That’s NUMBER ONE material, there.

2. Mike Parisi, P (6.2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 8 K)

The former Long Island Duck put up a strong outing despite ending up with a no-decision. 70 of Parisi’s 107 pitches went for strikes and his lone hiccup came in the seventh as an Adron Chambers RBI triple chopped Albuquerque’s edge to 2-1.

3. Tim Federowicz, C (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, two runs scored)

Federowicz’s fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth, extended the ‘Topes lead to 4-1 and, considering the pitcher-driven proceedings of the previous seven frames, gave them what appeared to be solid insurance. Little did we know how wild the ninth would be…

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