Three Stars: August 28 vs. Round Rock

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!

Three Stars: August 27 vs. Round Rock

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!