Fife Fans a Dozen in 9-5 Isotopes Win

Starter Stephen Fife fanned a season-high 12, coming within one strikeout of tying the franchise record, as the Albuquerque Isotopes (59-42) claimed a 9-5 victory over the Iowa Cubs (41-61) on Sunday night at Isotopes Park. With the win, the 'Topes move into sole possession of first place in the PCL's American Southern Division and currently rank a franchise-best 17 games above .500.

The righty Fife (8-5), who was making his first start since his Major League debut with the Dodgers, kept Iowa batters off balance throughout the contest, retiring 14 of the first 15 batters he faced. The hurler allowed just four hits, all singles, while striking out 12 and walking none. Fife has now won five of his last six decisions and allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last nine appearances.

The 'Topes dashed out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first as Trent Oeltjen roped a leadoff double to left and scored two batters later on a two-run shot from Alex Castellanos. With two home runs in the contest, the Isotopes have now left the yard in each of their last four games, blasting 11 homers during that span.

Albuquerque added a pair in the second when Oeltjen was plunked by a pitch from Iowa starter Chris Volstad, and Elian Herrera followed with an RBI double to right to widen the lead 3-0. Castellanos then collected his second hit in as many at-bats, this time an RBI double that gave the Isotopes a 4-0 lead.

In the fifth, Scott Van Slyke kept the 'Topes' offense rolling with a leadoff single to left. Two batters later, Tim Federowicz slapped a grounder to third baseman Josh Vitters, whose errant throw went sailing into the outfield, allowing Van Slyke to score and extending the lead 5-0. Albuquerque then added one more to make it 6-0 on an RBI double from Matt Angle.

Iowa finally found the scoreboard in the sixth, albeit in a non-traditional way, as Brett Jackson poked a single to center and advanced to third on a single from Adrian Cardenas. Vitters then became the ninth punchout victim of the night, but Fife's strikeout pitch scooted past Federowicz for a wild pitch, allowing Jackson to sneak home and bring the I-Cubs within 6-1.

The visitors attempted to keep it close in the eighth, narrowing the deficit 6-4 on a three-run homer by Vitters. However, the 'Topes nullified the trio of runs in the bottom half of the frame beginning with a solo shot from Oeltjen, which marked his third home run in the last two games. Castellanos continued the scoring with a single up the middle, taking third on a knock from Jerry Sands and finally scoring on a wild pitch from reliever Frankie De La Cruz to make it 8-4. With a runner on second, Federowicz widened the lead to 9-4 when he smashed an RBI double to right.

Iowa would add one more in the ninth, a solo homer from Welington Castillo, before Albuquerque reliever Angle Guzman (2) retired the next three batters he faced to close out a 9-5 Isotopes win.

The 'Topes and Cubs wrap up their four-game set tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 from Isotopes Park. Albuquerque right-handed ace John Ely (8-7, 3.55) will entertain Iowa southpaw Brooks Raley (4-5, 3.57) with a series sweep on the line. The Isotopes conclude their eight-game homestand tomorrow with a business person's special! Following the contest, the 'Topes will hit the road for an eight-game swing that features sets against the Round Rock Express and Nashville Sounds.

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.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com.