Three Stars: August 26 vs. Round Rock

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!

Three Stars: August 25 vs. Round Rock

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!

Three Stars: August 24 vs. Round Rock

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!

Three Stars: August 23 vs. Memphis

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!

Three Stars: August 22 vs. Memphis

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!