Three Stars: August 21 vs. Memphis

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!

Three Stars: August 20 vs. Memphis

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!