Romak Goes Deep Twice But Isotopes Fall 6-5 To Redbirds

NEED TO KNOW: Jamie Romak mashed a pair of home runs Wednesday night, but the Albuquerque Isotopes (56-69) gave up a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning to drop a 6-5 decision to the Memphis Redbirds (67-58) at Isotopes Park.

HAD A CHANCE: The Isotopes struck first when starting pitcher Barry Enright drove in Walter Ibarra after his two-out double in the second. The Redbirds put up a three-spot in the fourth, but Albuquerque quickly responded with a two-run homer from Jamie Romak to tie it at three-all in the home half of the fourth. The Topes would take a 4-3 lead in the fifth behind a solo long ball from Joc Pederson. After Memphis took another one-run lead in the top or the sixth, Romak hit his second homer of the night in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at five. Each team turned in a pair of scoreless frames before a one-out RBI single in the ninth gave the Redbirds a 6-5 lead. Trayvon Robinson singled to leadoff the bottom of the ninth and stole second. The speedy outfielder then reached third with only one out, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game before he could score.

RAKING ROMAK: Jamie Romak blasted a pair of home run Wednesday night. His first was a two-run shot in the fourth inning, followed by a solo job in the sixth inning. It is the 13th multi-homer game by an Isotope this season and the team-leading fourth by Romak. He finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Since the Dodgers optioned him back to Albuquerque on June 29, he has 43 RBI in just as many games, along with 10 homers, one triple and 15 doubles.

30-30 VISION: Continuing his quest for a 30-30 season, Joc Pederson mashed his Pacific Coast League-leading 28th home run of the season in the fifth inning on Wednesday. It was also his fourth homer in the last six games. The 22-year-old prospect is now just two home runs and four stolen bases shy of becoming the first member of the PCL's "30-30 Club" since Frank Demaree did it in 1934. There are 18 games remaining in the regular season.

ALS ICE WATER BUCKET CHALLENGE: Prior to Wednesday night's game, several Isotopes players, field staff and front office staff participated in the ALS Ice Water Bucket Challenge. The Topes were challenged by the ALS Association of New Mexico earlier in the day. In return, Albuquerque challenged the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Double-A partner. Each of those teams has 24 hours to complete the challenge. Video of the Isotopes getting doused with ice-cold water can be found on the Isotopes website, abqisotopes.com, and on the Isotopes Facebook page, facebook.com/abqisotopes.

ON DECK: The Isotopes and Redbirds will play game three of their four-game series Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. Left-handed pitcher Chris Reed (0-1, 5.06 ERA) will make his Isotopes Park debut, while left-hander Tyler Lyons (7-1, 3.63 ERA).

IN THE HOLE: After their four-game set against the Redbirds, the Isotopes will welcome the Nashville Sounds to Isotopes Park for a four-game series beginning Saturday at 7:05 p.m.