MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The Albuquerque Isotopes (58-72) valiantly overcame a an early four-run deficit to force extra innings only to have the Memphis Redbirds (69-60) prevail in dramatic fashion for the 6-5 10-inning defeat Monday night at Isotopes Park. Tagg Bozied led the offensive charge for the Isotopes by driving in four runs and only needing a triple for the cycle, while Tommy Murphy added a single in the third that extended his hitting streak to thirteen games, the longest for an Isotope this season.

Memphis jumped out of the box quickly as second baseman Brendan Ryan led the game off with a single up the middle and advanced to second after Tyler Greene drew a walk. With two men on, Isotopes starter Dallas Trahern retired the next two batters before he walked David Freese, loading the bases for Rico Washington, who cleared the bags with a line drive double to right that gave the Redbirds a quick three-run advantage, 3-0.

The Isotopes responded in the bottom of the first when Bozied crushed a solo blast over the left field wall that allowed the ‘Topes to cut the lead to two, 3-1.

Ryan drew a two out walk in the top of the second and Greene followed with a single before Nick Stavinoha laced a double to center deep enough for both runners to score, increasing the Memphis lead to four, 5-1.

Murphy cracked a two-out single to left in the third, then immediately stole his 22nd stolen base of the season, setting up Bozied, who continued to hammer his former team with a double to right-center field that drove in the speedy Murphy for Albuquerque’s second run, 5-2.

Pinch hitter Lee Mitchell led off the fifth inning for the Isotopes by drawing a walk and sprinted to third after Robert Andino’s single to left-center field. Andino would steal second, putting two runners in scoring position for the red-hot Bozied, who struck yet again with a two-run single that cut Memphis’ lead to one, 5-4.

Like in the Isotopes’ fifth, pinch hitter Mike Ryan led the seventh off by drawing a walk and raced to third after another Andino single. Murphy then singled into shallow right field allowing Ryan to score and tie the game up at five.

The deadlock would last until the tenth, when Freese blasted a solo home run over the center field fence off of ‘Topes reliever Carlos Martinez to give Memphis a 6-5, one-run edge.

The Isotopes had opportunities in the bottom half of the tenth, placing the tying run within 90-feet before closer Kelvin Jimenez shut the door to secure the 6-5 Redbirds victory.

The Isotopes look bounce back from defeat tomorrow night in the final game against the Memphis Redbirds as ‘Topes turn to hard throwing righty Frankie De La Cruz (12-7, 4.35) who will square off against Memphis right-hander Jess Todd (1-0, 1.35). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM at Isotopes Park.

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