'Topes Tripped Up By Tucson 7-4

Despite a pair of hits and three RBI from rehabbing shortstop Rafael Furcal, the Albuquerque Isotopes (19-16) were unable to keep the Tucson Padres (17-20) at bay, falling 7-4 in the series opener at Kino Stadium Saturday night. Furcal, who is working his way back to the Los Angeles Dodgers after breaking his left thumb last month, played six innings at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk and three RBI.

Albuquerque got on the board first in the second in the first of two Furcal-fueled rallies. After A.J. Ellis drew a walk, starting pitcher Tim Redding added an infield single, putting Ellis in scoring position for Furcal, who roped a single to left, plating the catcher and giving the 'Topes a 1-0 lead.

It would prove to be the Isotopes' only lead of the entire contest, as the Padres roared back immediately in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, Guillermo Quiroz singled to right, scoring Matt Clark from second to tie the game at 1-1. Anthony Contreras followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Alex Cintron and handed the Padres the lead a 2-1.

Tucson doubled its run total one inning later, when Luis Durango led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on a double by Cedric Hunter. Jesus Guzman then delivered an RBI single, extending the home team's lead to 3-1. Just like an inning prior, the rally ended with a sacrifice fly, this one by Clark, to give the Padres a 4-1 edge.

Albuquerque crept one run closer in the fourth when Ellis again drew a walk, was sacrificed to second and scored on a two-out single by Furcal to bring the 'Topes to within 4-2.

After Tucson added another run in the fifth on a Guzman solo homer, the Isotopes responded in the sixth in another rally ignited by Ellis. The catcher started the frame by reaching on an error by the third baseman Guzman and motored to third on a double by Justin Sellers. Pinch-hitter Ivan DeJesus Jr. plated Ellis with an RBI groundout to short before Furcal added his third RBI of the contest with an RBI groundout to second that sent home Sellers and brought Albuquerque back to within a single tally at 5-4.

The Padres put an exclamation point on the contest in the bottom of the seventh, however, adding two insurance runs on a Anthony Rizzo two-run single to cruise to an eventual 7-4 win.

The Isotopes will take on Tucson again on Sunday with lefty Alberto Bastardo (2-1, 4.01) on the hill for Albuquerque taking on Padres right-hander Matt Buschmann, who is making his first start of the season at Triple-A after coming up from Double-A. First pitch from Kino Stadium is slated for 7:00 PM MT.

After an eight-game tour of the desert southwest including stops in Las Vegas and Tucson, the Isotopes will return for eight games this Thursday with a full slate of promotions in the offing that includes Isotopes Replica Jersey night, post-game fireworks, and the team's second 50-Cent Hot Dog Night of the year.

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 at www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com.