MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com -

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Nashville, TN - Leading by three after six innings, the Albuquerque Isotopes (64-74) watched their advantage evaporate over the final innings, culminating in a walk-off home run in the ninth that sealed a 5-4 defeat to the Nashville Sounds (59-79) Wednesday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Leading the offensive charge for the ‘Topes were sluggers Tagg Bozied and Mike Ryan who both hit solo homers in the defeat.

Nashville drew an early lead after recently promoted third baseman Mat Gamel knocked a solo home run over the left-center field wall to kick start the second inning and give the Sounds an early one run lead, 1-0.

Bozied led the fourth inning off for the ‘Topes with a solo shot of his own over the left field fence to tie the game up at one. Two batters later, Ryan followed with a one-out solo homer over the right field wall that gave Albuquerque a one run edge, 2-1.

One inning later, Lee Mitchell laced a leadoff double to right before starting pitcher Bobby Keppel hit a hotshot chopper over the head of the third baseman into the left field corner that drove in Mitchell and extended the ‘Topes advantage to two, 3-1. After Robert Andino walked, manager Dean Treanor caught the Nashville Sounds sleeping with a double-steal call that moved the runners into scoring position for Bozied, who capitalized on the situation with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Keppel for Albuquerque’s fourth run, 4-1.

Leading off the sixth for the Sounds, Jay Gibbons launched a solo homer over the right field fence that cut the ‘Topes lead in half, 4-2. Adam Heether then drew a one out walk before advancing to second after Vinny Rottino’s single down the right field line. A wild pitch by Keppel advanced the runners to second and third and on the very next pitch, Keppel’s toss sailed wildly past catcher Paul Hoover. A fortunate break came for the ‘Topes as that wild pitch ricocheted off the backstop into Hoover’s hands, who then flipped the ball to Keppel covering home, where the pitcher tagged out Heether as the base runner attempted to score. The play at the plate proved to be immense as, with now two-outs and one runner on third, Brendan Katin launched a two-run homer over the right field fence that tied the game up at four.

Knotted up at four in the bottom of the ninth, Tony Gwynn hammered a 2-2 offering off of reliever Carlos Martinez over the right field wall for his second homer of the season, providing Nashville with the comeback 5-4 win.

Albuquerque’s series in the Music City rolls on as the ‘Topes turn to right hander Tim Corcoran (0-0, 4.50), who will take the hill against Sounds’ southpaw Lindsay Gulin (7-7, 3.77) in a 6:00 PM MT start from Greer Stadium.

Albuquerque ended its 2008 home campaign by eclipsing a franchise attendance mark, as the Isotopes have drawn a grand total of 593,606 fans this season over 71 openings for an average of 8,361, also a franchise high.

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!

Boxscore