McBride Continues To Rake, Topes Win 9-7

NEED TO KNOW: Matt McBride collected four hits, and Drew Stubbs drove in four runs as the Albuquerque Isotopes (22-32) beat the Iowa Cubs (27-25) 9-7 in a slugfest at Isotopes Park Wednesday night.

THE TURNING POINT: Iowa pounced on top early with two runs in the top of the first, but Albuquerque quickly responded with a six spot in the home half of the first. After Cristhian Adames reached on an error, the Isotopes rattled off four straight singles from Tim Smalling, Kyle Parker, Matt McBride and Drew Stubbs. After a walk and a pair of outs, left-handed pitcher Yohan Flande poked a two-out, two-RBI single down the left field line to cap the six-run inning. The Topes tacked on single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Entering Wednesday's game, the Isotopes had turned 16 double plays in their last six games, nine of which were of the 6-4-3 variety. Albuquerque then turned three more on Wednesday to overtake the Pacific Coast League lead with 65 twin killings on the year, two more than the New Orleans Zephyrs.

MORE FROM MCBRIDE: The most consistent hitter the last month for the Isotopes has been Matt McBride. He went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, a triple and an RBI. He now has hits in 22 of his last 26 games, 17 of which are multi-hit performances. During that span, McBride is hitting .438 (46-for-105) with 23 runs scored, 11 doubles, a triple, five homers, 17 RBI and three walks. He has also raised his average from .178 to .360.

STUBB-LING ALONG: Center fielder Drew Stubbs turned in his second-straight 3-for-3 game Wednesday night and fourth multi-hit game since joining the Isotopes on May 20. He went 3-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch on Tuesday and 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and four RBI on Wednesday.

OH SO CLOSE: Matt McBride lacked just one leg of cycle for the second-straight night. He needed a home run in the eighth inning but grounded out to third instead. It marked the fourth time in the last six games that an Isotopes player came just one leg shy of the cycle and the sixth time overall this season. Albuquerque has not had a player hit for the cycle since Robert Andino accomplished the feat on August 21, 2008 against New Orleans.

SNOW GLOBES ON FRIDAY: The first 3,000 fans to Friday's 7:05 p.m. game against the Iowa Cubs will receive a free Orbit snow globe courtesy of AARP.

ON DECK: The Isotopes and Cubs will play game three of their four-game series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Boone Whiting (1-2, 7.00) is scheduled to start for Albuquerque, while Iowa will send lefty Erick Jokisch (2-2, 3.67) to the hill.

IN THE HOLE: After this four-game set against the Iowa Cubs, the Isotopes will hit the road four an eight-game, nine-day swing with stops in Salt Lake to face the Bees and Tacoma to face the Rainiers beginning June 6.