Gibbons Gets HR Derby Nod
Through 83 team games, Gibbons leads the Isotopes with 12 homers to go along with 59 RBI, tied for fifth most in the PCL, and a .330 batting average. Gibbons has been particularly productive at Isotopes Park, where he's batting a whopping .392 with eight homers and 34 RBI in 30 games.
Gibbons becomes the sixth Isotopes player to take part in the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby since 2003, joining Robert Stratton (2003), Joe Dillon (2004), Larry Sutton (2004), Scott Seabol (2007), and Valentino Pascucci (2007). Stratton also came back and participated in the 2007 derby at Isotopes Park after he had retired from baseball.
In addition to Gibbons, the PCL side of the derby is made up of J.P. Arencibia of Las Vegas (22 homers) and Omaha's Alex Gordon (12). For the International League, Jeff Frazier from Toledo (15), Durham's Dan Johnson (22), and Lehigh Valley All-Star Andy Tracy (12) will swing for the fences.
Two nights after the derby, Gibbons, John Lindsey, and Lucas May will represent the Isotopes in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The 23rd annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be played at Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh Valley, PA (Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) on Wednesday, July 14. First pitch is slated for 5:07 PM MT and will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Albuquerque will head into the All-Star Break with an eight-game road trip through Iowa and then Omaha before returning home on Thursday, July 15 for a stretch of 12 home games in 16 days. Promotional highlights include fireworks on July 16, Dukes Retro Night / Tommy Lasorda Bobblehead Night on July 17, Isotopes hat giveaway on July 18.
Tickets for any Isotopes game may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information or for a complete list of 2009 promotions visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com.