Isotopes Outlast Express In Extras

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Tony Gwynn, Jr. hit a tie-breaking two-run double in the 11th inning and Jeremy Moore added a two-run home run as the Albuquerque Isotopes rallied for a 9-4 victory Thursday night over the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond.

The Isotopes (35-32) split the four-game series, split the eight-game road trip that started in New Orleans, and have now alternated a win and a loss in 13 consecutive games.

Round Rock (37-31) rallied from a 4-1 deficit to the game. Mike Olt hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Joey Butler added a solo home run in the sixth inning that was initially ruled a double until the umpires huddled and changed it to a home run.

Later in the sixth inning, Moore threw out Yangervis Solarte at home plate after a single to right field to preserve a 4-3 Topes lead. 

In the eighth, Topes reliever Josh Wall walked the first two batters on nine pitches. Butler laid down a sacrifice bunt and Solarte hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Wall struck out Olt to strand the go-ahead runner at third base.

Round Rock had runners at first and third, with one out in the ninth. Wall struck out pinch hitter Jared Hoying. Then first baseman Brian Barden made a nice stop of a sharp grounder by Engel Beltre, and flipped to Wall covering first base to end the inning.

Steve Ames (2-2) needed 37 pitches in the 10th inning, but he stranded the bases loaded after a single and two walks. Mike Bianucci hit a smash up the middle that Ames gloved and threw to first to keep the game going.

After 10 innings, both teams had exactly four runs, seven hits, two errors, nine left on base, seven walks and nine strikeouts each. 

Matt Wallach, who homered in the fourth inning and had three hits on the night, walked to start the 11th. Elevys Gonzalez, making his Triple-A debut, laid down a bunt that was bobbled by Express pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla (4-5) and everybody was safe. Dee Gordon's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners 90 feet, and Elian Herrera was intentionally walked to setup the force at home plate.

Gwynn hit a 1-0 pitch just inside the first-base line that scored two runs. Herrera scored on a wild pitch off the glove off catcher Eli Whiteside. Moore launched a 3-2 pitch to deep right-center field to cap the inning.

Anthony Ortega walked two in the 11th, but got the final three outs to end a game that took four hours and 13 minutes.

The Isotopes return home on Friday to open a four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds and first pitch is at 7:05 pm from Isotopes Park. Listen to all the action on 610 AM "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.