Gray Lights Out As Isotopes Win 8-1

NEED TO KNOW: Right-handed pitcher Jon Gray was lights out - literally - as the Albuquerque Isotopes (43-52) beat the Las Vegas 51s (55-40) 8-1 Sunday night at Isotopes Park. Gray did not allow an earned run, and the Isotopes endured a total of one hour and 47 minutes of delay during the game, including a 19-minute power outage interruption.

THE TURNING POINT: A pair of doubles by Kyle Parker and Angelys Nina in the second inning put Albuquerque on the board first. Recently acquired outfielder Jeremy Barfield also notched an RBI single in the inning to give the Isotopes a 2-0 lead through two frames. After Las Vegas plated an unearned run in the third inning, the Topes responded with an RBI double by Trevor Story to extend the lead back to 3-1. Parker doubled in another run in the sixth before Albuquerque broke the game wide open in the eighth inning, highlighted by a Roger Bernadina three-run home run.

GRAY MATTER: In typical Jon Gray fashion, the right-hander allowed a leadoff triple to begin the game then struck out the side in the first to strand the runner. Gray went on to toss five innings of one-run ball. The only run he allowed was unearned. Gray scattered three hits, while striking out seven. He only walked a pair of batters, and 56 of his 84 pitches were strikes. Sunday marks the fourth time this season Gray hasn't allowed an earned run in a start and the 10th time he's surrendered three total runs or fewer.

IRON MAN PARKER: Kyle Parker played in his 19th-consecutive game Sunday night, running his consecutive innings streak to 167. He turned in a 3-for-4 night with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. During his last 19 straight starts, Parker has nine doubles and 15 RBI.

SLAMMIN' NINA: Infielder Angelys Nina continued to pound the ball Sunday evening, going 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. He now has hits in 20 of his last 24 games, including multi-hit efforts in five of his last eight outings. During his last 24 games, Nina is batting .421 (32-for-76) with 18 runs scored, nine doubles, one triple and nine RBI.

SEE-YA SIMON: Right-handed reliever Simon Castro worked two scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. He also walked a batter. In his last eight games, Castro has surrendered just one run in 12.1 innings pitched (0.73 ERA), while striking out 15.

ENOUGH WITH THE DELAY: The Isotopes were involved in two delays Sunday night. First pitch was delayed an hour and 28 minutes as rain passed through the area, and the game was again paused for 19 minutes in the seventh inning when half of the stadium lights went out. In total, Albuquerque has been delayed or postponed a combined 11 times this season, and six of those times have come against Las Vegas.

ON DECK: The Isotopes will hit the road for a short four-game series against the Reno Aces beginning Monday evening at 8:05 p.m. MT. Right-handed pitcher Boone Whiting (2-4, 6.14 ERA) is slated to take the hill for Albuquerque, while Reno will go with fellow right-hander Edgar Garcia (3-1, 4.18 ERA).

IN THE HOLE: Following this short four-game road swing, the Isotopes will return home for an eight-game homestand beginning Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the Sacramento River Cats and Salt Lake Bees. 25 of Albuquerque's next 37 games are at home.