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A tough tenth for the ‘Topes

Omaha plates seven runs in 10th inning to beat Albuquerque, 10-4

A tight game at Isotopes Park turned ugly for the Isotopes (2-1), as the Omaha Storm Chasers (1-2) exploded for seven runs in the top of the 10th inning and went on to win, 10-4.

With the score tied 3-3 after nine innings, the Storm Chasers had two on with one out when Mike Moustakas grounded to ‘Topes pitcher Jon Huber. Unfortunately, Huber’s toss to Dee Gordon at second forced the shortstop off the bag. Gordon’s subsequent throw to first base then got by Jerry Sands, allowing Lance Zawadzki to score and give Omaha a 4-3 lead.

From there, the troubles continued as two bases-loaded walks were given up to make it 6-3 Chasers. A pitching change to Oscar Villarreal didn’t help, either, as Omaha tagged Albuquerque for four more runs before their half of the 10th was up.

Ivan DeJesus Jr. scored on a Russ Mitchell groundout in the bottom of the 10th for the ‘Topes, ending the night’s scoring.

Albuquerque got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning. With Jamie Hoffmann on first after a single to left-center, Sands hit a two-run homer to right field to give the ‘Topes a 2-0 lead.

The Chasers tied it up with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Albuquerque took the lead back in the bottom half of the inning as a John Lindsey grounder sneaked under Zawadski’s glove. The error from Zawadzki allowed DeJesus, Jr. to come home for a 3-2 ‘Topes lead. However, Omaha started the top of the eighth inning with back-to-back hits that yielded the tying run. Huber and Omaha’s Kevin Pucetas each pitched scoreless ninth innings to send the game into extras.

For more on tonight’s game, be sure to check out AlbuquerqueBaseball.com later tonight for a full recap.

— Chris Estrada

Once again, a perfect 10

Isotopes open up campaign with back-to-back wins

After Thursday’s season-opening win, the Albuquerque Isotopes continued to pound out the runs tonight at Isotopes Park.

The ‘Topes put up an early barrage of offense and then managed to pull away again from the Omaha Storm Chasers to take a 10-6 decision in front of 5,225 on a rather breezy night at The Lab.

Omaha jumped on the board in the top of the first, going up 1-0 on an RBI single. But the ‘Topes responded immediately with four runs coming off of RBI singles from Jay Gibbons and John Lindsey, and then a RBI double to left from Jerry Sands.

Albuquerque went on to rough up Storm Chasers starting pitcher and Major League veteran Jeff Suppan to the tune of seven runs on seven hits over four innings. But Omaha didn’t go down easy, putting up three runs in the top of the third and then one run each in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the ‘Topes lead to 7-6.

But in the bottom of the sixth, Albuquerque got some breathing room. After new Chasers pitcher Luis Mendoza intentionally walked Gibbons to load the bases, he plunked Lindsey to allow J.D. Closser home from third base for an 8-6 edge. Trent Oeltjen then drew a walk to allow Dee Gordon to score, which was followed by Russ Mitchell grounding out to bring in Gibbons for the final score of the night.

Ramon Troncoso came on in the fifth inning to replace ‘Topes starter Carlos Monasterios (4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) on the mound and pitched three innings of scoreless ball to pick up the win. Jon Link provided a scoreless eight inning to set-up Ramon Colon’s 1-2-3 retirement of the Chasers in the ninth inning, sealing the triumph.

For more information on tonight’s game, check out our game story coming later tonight on AlbuquerqueBaseball.com.

— Chris Estrada