Freeland Leads Isotopes to Victory Over River Cats

Kyle Freeland earned his first Triple-A victory Friday night holding the River Cats to one run in six innings as Albuquerque defeated Sacramento 7-2. The win ended the Isotopes franchise-high 13-game losing streak that began June 17.

Albuquerque took the lead in the second inning scoring three runs with two outs. Joey Wong put the Isotopes ahead with an RBI single to score Alex Castellanos. Freeland helped his own cause with a two-run single up the middle for the first two RBI of his career.

The Isotopes offense stayed hot in the third inning with four more runs to go up 7-0. Tom Murphy began the scoring with an RBI single before Castellanos connected on his first home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left field wall. Murphy finished the night by going 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Freeland threw two scoreless frames to start game with the help of two 5-4-3 double plays. The River Cats scored their only run off the lefty in the bottom of the third with an RBI single from Ali Castillo. Freeland responded by retiring 12 of the final 14 batters he faced and ended his outing five strikeouts.

Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect seventh inning in his fifth rehab appearance with the Isotopes by getting two fly outs and a groundout. Sacramento added one run in the eighth inning before Scott Oberg shutout the River Cats in the ninth to seal the win.

The Isotopes continue their series in Sacramento tomorrow night with right-hander Shane Carle (3-6, 5.65) taking the hill for Albuquerque. The River Cats will have left-hander Ty Blach (7-5, 4.23) on the mound. The game is scheduled to get underway from Raley Field at 8:05 p.m.