Game Notes for Today, Thursday, June 6

TONIGHT'S GAME: Albuquerque opens an eight-game road trip tonight against the New Orleans Zephyrs. The Zephyrs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and are currently in last place in the American Southern Division. The Isotopes then head to Round Rock for a four-game set with another division rival in the Express, who are currently tied for first place. The Isotopes are currently two games behind the first-place RedHawks and Express in the American Southern Division.   

EXTRA, EXTRA: The Isotopes exploded for ten runs on nine hits, eight of them for extra bases to set a season record, en route to their 10-2 victory over the first place RedHawks on Tuesday afternoon. In his third spot start of the season, Red Patterson tossed 4.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits, walking three and striking out three. The Isotopes bullpen followed with another stellar performance with Anthony Ortega, Steve Ames and Chris Withrow surrendering a combined four hits and one run over the final 4.1 frames. Withrow tossed a perfect ninth and has not allowed an earned run in his last six appearances. At 4-0 with a 2.01 ERA, the last earned run Withrow surrendered was on May 19 at home. He holds a 0.93 ERA on the road.

NO MORE ROADHOUSE BLUES: The Isotopes won their first two road series of the season, taking three games from Nashville and three from Memphis during their eight-game road trip ending the month of May. Before the trip, the Isotopes were 8-11 on the road, but now find themselves a game over .500 (14-13) for the first time this year since they were 3-2 after a victory over Omaha on April 16. The Isotopes will spend 17 of their 29 games in the month of June on the road and return to Memphis to complete the month. 

VS. NEW ORLEANS: This is the Topes second of four series this season against the Zephyrs. Albuquerque split their first four-game set of the season with New Orleans at Isotopes Park in May. The Isotopes took 9 of 16 games from the Zephyrs last season, with New Orleans finishing the year in third place in the American Southern Division. The Isotopes hold an 88-75 advantage all-time over the Zephyrs, but New Orleans holds the advantage at home, holding a 43-35 all-time record at Zephyr Field against Albuquerque.  

TRANSACTIONS: Right-handed pitcher Matt Magill rejoins the Albuquerque Isotopes effective Wednesday, June 5, after being recalled by the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 2. Right-hander Matt Shelton was sent to extended spring training today. Magill made his last start with the Dodgers at Colorado on June 2, suffering his first Major League loss. The California native allowed six runs on five hits over six innings of work, walking nine and fanning five before being optioned. Magill, 23, has made five Major League starts this season with an 0-1 record, while posting a 6.38 ERA (17ER/24.0IP). He last pitched for Albuquerque on May 25 at Nashville, picking up the win by allowing just two hits in 6.0 scoreless innings, and has gone 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five starts for the Isotopes. Magill is scheduled to start Sunday's game for the Isotopes in New Orleans.

BI-ANGLE: Matt Angle blasted two home runs in Tuesday's win, marking the first multi-home run game of his career. With solo shots in the second and seventh, Angle is the fourth Isotope this season to hit two round-trippers in a game. The outfielder is hitting .500 in his last five games, going 5-for-10 with four runs scored, two RBI and two home runs. The Ohio native has had 17 multi-hit games this year, good for second on the team.