Isotopes Sunk by Walk-Off Homer Friday Night

Salt Lake City, UT – For the second time in 2022, the Albuquerque Isotopes lost a game in one of the most excruciating ways possible: a walk-off home run.

Salt Lake Bees catcher Colby Fitch stepped to the plate with a runner on first and two outs in the ninth inning of a tie game, and he deposited a Jake Bird offering onto the right-field berm for a two-run blast as the Bees defeated the Isotopes 7-5 on Friday night at Smith’s Ballpark. Albuquerque (17-23) has dropped three of the first four contests in this set.

The evening started off on a positive note for the Topes. Wynton Bernard singled to lead off the game, then with two outs, Alan Trejo lofted a fly ball down the right-field line that just snuck inside the fair pole for a two-run homer as Albuquerque took a 2-0 lead.

Right-hander Matt Dennis made his first start for the Topes since May 1. After retiring the side in order in the first, he relented four runs in the second. Back-to-back walks started the downfall, before Juan Lagares lined a two-run triple and Jake Gatewood delivered an RBI single to highlight the frame. Dennis gave up another run in the third before exiting.

Southpaw Reagan Todd gave Albuquerque a lift by pitching a pair of scoreless innings from the bullpen, helping keep his team within striking distance at 5-2 through five.

The sixth-inning rally started when Trejo tripled with one out before Coco Montes drew a walk. With the count full to D.J. Peterson, a pitch clock violation was called on Salt Lake starter Jhonathan Diaz for ball four. Diaz was then pulled in favor of Andrew Wantz, and the bottom of the Topes order was able to come through. Ryan Vilade lifted a sacrifice fly before Jonathan Morales and Tyler Hill each delivered RBI singles. For Hill, it was his first Triple-A knock and it tied the contest.

Albuquerque reliever Zach Lee got out of a key jam in the eighth to keep the game tied. Salt Lake got the first two runners on via error and walk, but Lee then induced a double-play grounder and a groundout to first.

The Topes pitching staff held Salt Lake to just six hits, three after the third inning. Offensively, Trejo had the only multi-hit evening with his homer and triple.

Topes Scope: - Albuquerque has surrendered three walk-off home runs in Salt Lake since 2017 (Kaleb Cowart, 7/22/17; Chris Carter, 4/22/18 and Fitch this evening).

- The first time the Isotopes surrendered a walk-off home run this season came on opening night, when Jason Martin did so for Oklahoma City off Julian Fernández.

- Morales’ RBI single in the sixth snapped an 0-for-18 drought, marking his first knock since May 5 at Oklahoma City.

- Bernard stole second base in the first inning, making him 7-for-7 in thefts this year and 30-for-32 as an Isotope dating back to last season.

- Todd delivered a scoreless outing of two innings or more for the fourth time this season (4/20 at RR, 4/28 vs. SAC, 5/10 vs. SUG, tonight).

- Fernández worked a scoreless frame in relief, just the fifth time in 15 appearances he has not permitted a run in 2022.

- The PCL is batting .433 (52-for-120) off Dennis this season.

On Deck: Right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert will make his second Major League rehabilitation start for the Isotopes on Saturday and will be opposed by fellow righty Jason Junk. First pitch from Smith’s Ballpark is set for 6:35 p.m.