Garneau Mashes Grand Slam In Topes Win

NEED TO KNOW: Another road game, another big first inning for the Albuquerque Isotopes (7-3) Saturday evening at Aces Ballpark in Reno, NV. The Isotopes cruised to a 9-4 win against the Reno Aces (4-6) in their second game away from Isotopes Park this season. It is Albuquerque's sixth win in its last seven games.

DECIDING MOMENT: Much like Friday night, the Isotopes wasted no time jumping on the Aces. Angelys Nina singled in Cristhian Adames in the first inning, and Albuquerque was off and rolling. With Kyle Parker on third and Nina on first, Tim Wheeler walked to load the bases. Dustin Garneau stepped to the plate and smashed an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall for the first Isotopes first grand slam of the season. It was the first Topes slam since Rusty Ryal hit one May 30, 2013 at Memphis. Albuquerque would go on to add two runs in the third and single runs in the fourth and sixth.

GARNEAU-ING, GARNEAU-ING, GONE!: Catcher Dusin Garneau blasted a grand slam in the first inning and added an RBI single in the third inning. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored, five RBI, a homer and a walk. He is the second Isotope to record five RBI in a game after Tim Wheeler's five RBI on Friday night. In his last four games, Garneau is 6-for-15 with six runs scored, three homers, eight RBI and three walks.

WHEELERS IN THE SKY KEEP ON TURNING: After his 4-for-5 outing Friday night that included two doubles, a homer and five RBI, Tim Wheeler added a 2-for-3 showing Saturday night. He scored two runs and walked twice. In his last six games, Garneau is 11-for-23 with 10 runs scored, three doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and four walks.

APPALLING PAULSEN: Reno has been a hitter friendly city for the Isotopes thus far. Ben Paulsen was 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored, three RBI and a walk Friday and added a two more RBI and a walk Friday. He's now 5-for-10 with five runs driven in during two road games this season.

ROLLING, ROLLING ON THE RIO (GRANDE): The Isotopes have been on quite a hot streak lately. They have won six of their last seven games, losing only an 11-inning pitcher's duel to Tacoma Sunday afternoon. Albuquerque has scored nearly eight runs per game during that stretch, including three double-digit run outputs.

SHAKE THAT "LAFFEY" TAFFY: Left-hander Aaron Laffey tossed three innings of one-hit shutout ball in relief of starter Chris Rusin Saturday. Laffey only threw 26 pitches in his three frames, 19 of which were strikes. It was his third appearance of the season and first without allowing a run. The three innings pitched Saturday night are also a season high.

ON DECK: The Isotopes will play game three of their four-game series at Reno Sunday night at 2:05 p.m. MT. Right-hander Jair Jurrjens (0-0, 3.18) will take the mound for Albuquerque, while the Aces will send lefty Vidal Nuno (2-0, 2.19).

IN THE HOLE: After their four-game set in Reno, the Isotopes will head to Tacoma and Las Vegas before returning home on April 30 to host the Salt Lake Bees.