MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – Down by four runs in the sixth, the Albuquerque Isotopes (60-72) unleashed a blitzkrieg of offense, scoring six runs including a grand slam by Andrew Beattie, to grab a 7-5 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs (62-70) Wednesday night at Isotopes Park.  In addition to the grand slam, Beattie added two more hits in a three-for-four performance, while Steve Woodard’s key three and a third shutout innings of relief helped swing the pendulum of momentum back to the ‘Topes favor.

    Trailing 5-1 in the sixth, Tagg Bozied led the inning off with a walk that set up Dallas McPherson, who cracked a single to right-center advancing Bozied to second.  Jason Wood drew a walk to load the bases for Beattie, who tattooed a grand slam over the left-center field fence that tied the game up with one swing, 5-5.  Brett Hayes followed with a solo shot two pitches later that gave the ‘Topes their first lead of the ballgame, 6-5.  Pinch hitter Chase Lambin extended the inning with a hot shot single to third then scampered into second after Tommy Murphy slashed a single to left. Batting for the second time in the inning, Bozied singled to left-center, scoring Lambin for the ‘Topes sixth run in the inning, 7-5.

    Once the Isotopes apprehended control of the game after their monstrous sixth inning the duo of Carlos Martinez and Brandon Villafuerte (5) shut down the Zephyrs bats over the final three innings for the 7-5 triumph.  Villafuerte fanned four of five batters he faced to close out his fifth save of the season and his second in as many nights. 

    New Orleans took an early lead in the first when Jesus Feliciano smashed the second pitch of the ballgame over the left field fence for a leadoff home run that was immediately followed by an Andy Green solo blast that gave the Z’s a quick 2-0 edge.

    Murphy extended his team-leading hitting streak to fifteen games when he hit a one-out, line-drive double to right-center field in the bottom of the first and scampered home after Bozied laced a double to right field for Albuquerque’s first run, 2-1.

    Zephyrs starter Ruddy Lugo began the second inning when he reached safely with a single to left field for Green, who continued his power surge with his second homer of the game, giving New Orleans a three-run edge, 4-1.

    Gustavo Molina lined a double to right field to leadoff the third inning, then advanced to third after a ground out to the right side.  With a runner on third, Feliciano singled to left, plating Molina and extending the Zephyrs’ advantage to four, 5-1.  Despite the early offensive charge, New Orleans’ offense would scuffle over the final six innings while the Isotopes offense ignited.  

    The Isotopes look to continue their winning ways against the New Orleans Zephyrs in game two of the five-game series tomorrow night with right hander Bobby Keppel (7-11, 6.34) squaring off against Z’s righty Bobby Parnell (1-1, 4.91). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM at Isotopes Park.

Albuquerque Isotopes 7, New Orleans Zephyrs 5
August 20, 2008

Zephyrs starting lineup:
Jesus Feliciano (CF), Andy Green (2B), Chris Aguila (LF), Valentino Pascucci (RF), Michel Abreu (1B), Ramon Martinez (SS), Gustavo Molina (C), Abraham Nunez (3B), Ruddy Lugo (P),

Isotopes starting lineup:
Robert Andino (SS), Tommy Murphy (CF), Tagg Bozied (RF), Dallas McPherson (3B), Michael Ryan (LF), Jason Wood (1B), Andrew Beattie (2B), Brett Hayes (C), Chris Seddon (P),

Umpires -- Scot Chamberlain (HP), Mark Ripperger (1B), (2B), Ron McCall (3B).

Gametime Weather: 86 degrees, Overcast.
Wind: 22 MPH, Out To LF.

First pitch by C. Seddon at 06:38 PM local time.

Zephyrs 1st (Zephyrs 2, Isotopes 0) -- J. Feliciano hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch. A. Green hits a home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch. C. Aguila walks. V. Pascucci strikes out swinging. With M. Abreu batting, C. Aguila steals 2nd base. M. Abreu walks. R. Martinez struck out looking. G. Molina hit by pitch, C. Aguila to 3rd; M. Abreu to 2nd. A. Nunez flies out to T. Bozied. 
      (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB)

Isotopes 1st (Zephyrs 2, Isotopes 1) -- R. Andino flies out to J. Feliciano. T. Murphy doubles to right-center field. T. Bozied doubles to right-center field, T. Murphy scores. D. McPherson strikes out swinging. M. Ryan strikes out swinging. 
      (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Zephyrs 2nd (Zephyrs 4, Isotopes 1) -- R. Lugo singles to left field. J. Feliciano flies out to T. Murphy. A. Green hits a home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch, R. Lugo scores. C. Aguila singles to left field. V. Pascucci reaches on force attempt, fielding error by D. McPherson, C. Aguila to 2nd. M. Abreu flies out to T. Bozied. R. Martinez pops out to J. Wood in foul territory. 
      (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)

Isotopes 2nd (Zephyrs 4, Isotopes 1) -- J. Wood grounds out, R. Lugo to M. Abreu. A. Beattie singles to right-center field. B. Hayes walks, A. Beattie to 2nd. C. Seddon strikes out on foul bunt. R. Andino grounds into a force out, R. Martinez to A. Green, B. Hayes out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Zephyrs 3rd (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- G. Molina doubles to right field. A. Nunez lines out to T. Murphy. R. Lugo grounds out, A. Beattie to J. Wood, G. Molina to 3rd. J. Feliciano singles to left field, G. Molina scores. A. Green singles to left-center field, J. Feliciano to 3rd; A. Green to 2nd on the throw. Pitcher Change: S. Woodard replaces C. Seddon, batting 9th. C. Aguila flies out to T. Murphy. 
      (1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Isotopes 3rd (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- T. Murphy flies out to C. Aguila. T. Bozied walks. D. McPherson strikes out swinging. M. Ryan grounds out, A. Green to M. Abreu. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Zephyrs 4th (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- V. Pascucci grounds out, R. Andino to J. Wood. M. Abreu doubles through the hole at shortstop. R. Martinez pops out to B. Hayes in foul territory. G. Molina grounds out, D. McPherson to J. Wood. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Isotopes 4th (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- J. Wood pops out to A. Green. A. Beattie flies out to C. Aguila. B. Hayes grounds out, A. Nunez to M. Abreu. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Zephyrs 5th (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- A. Nunez strikes out swinging. R. Lugo grounds out, R. Andino to J. Wood. J. Feliciano flies out to M. Ryan. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Isotopes 5th (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- S. Woodard strikes out swinging. R. Andino flies out to C. Aguila. T. Murphy strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Zephyrs 6th (Zephyrs 5, Isotopes 1) -- A. Green strikes out swinging. C. Aguila singles up the middle. V. Pascucci singles through the hole at shortstop, C. Aguila to 2nd. M. Abreu grounds out, R. Andino to J. Wood, C. Aguila to 3rd; V. Pascucci to 2nd. R. Martinez flies out to M. Ryan. 
      (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Isotopes 6th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- T. Bozied walks. D. McPherson singles to right-center field, T. Bozied to 2nd. Pitcher Change: E. Brito replaces R. Lugo, batting 9th. M. Ryan strikes out swinging. J. Wood walks, T. Bozied to 3rd; D. McPherson to 2nd. A. Beattie hits a grand slam to left field on a 1-0 pitch, T. Bozied scores; D. McPherson scores; J. Wood scores. B. Hayes hits a home run to left field on a 0-1 pitch. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter C. Lambin replaces S. Woodard. C. Lambin singles to shallow left field. Pitcher Change: I. Maldonado replaces E. Brito, batting 9th. R. Andino pops out to R. Martinez. T. Murphy singles to left field, C. Lambin to 2nd. T. Bozied singles to left-center field, C. Lambin scores; T. Murphy to 2nd. D. McPherson strikes out swinging. 
      (6 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Zephyrs 7th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- Pitcher Change: C. Martinez replaces S. Woodard, batting 9th. G. Molina strikes out swinging. A. Nunez grounds out, A. Beattie to J. Wood. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter A. Machado replaces I. Maldonado. A. Machado flies out to T. Bozied. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Isotopes 7th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- Pitcher Change: J. Santiago replaces I. Maldonado, batting 9th. M. Ryan lines out to A. Green. J. Wood flies out to J. Feliciano. A. Beattie singles to right-center field. B. Hayes pops out to A. Nunez in foul territory. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Zephyrs 8th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- J. Feliciano singles to third base. A. Green strikes out swinging. Defensive switch from right field to 1st for T. Bozied. Pitcher Change: B. Villafuerte replaces C. Martinez, batting 6th. Defensive Substitution: J. Miller replaces right fielder T. Bozied, batting 9th. C. Aguila strikes out swinging. V. Pascucci struck out looking. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Isotopes 8th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- J. Miller walks. R. Andino struck out looking. T. Murphy flies out to C. Aguila. T. Bozied grounds out, A. Green to M. Abreu. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)

Zephyrs 9th (Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5) -- M. Abreu strikes out swinging. R. Martinez grounds out, A. Beattie to T. Bozied. G. Molina strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Final: Isotopes 7, Zephyrs 5

WP: Steve Woodard (1-2).
LP: Eude Brito (0-1).
SV: Brandon Villafuerte (5).
Time: 2:58.
Attendance: 7980.
Official Scorer: Gary Herron.

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