Isotopes Fall Shorts to Zs

New Orleans (13-14) squeaked by Albuquerque (16-13) with a 6-5 win despite three long balls and a phenomenal bullpen effort by the Topes Saturday night. Friday night's 2013 record-setting crowd was topped with a showing of 13,305 fans at Isotopes Park.

The Topes manufactured a run to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. LF Matt Angle (2-for-5) ran out a bunt for the game's first hit and advanced to second on a 1B Scott Van Slyke (2-for-4) single. With catcher Tim Federowicz at the dish, Angle stole third base (7) putting runners on the corners. Federowicz (2-for-4) then drove Angle in on a sacrifice fly to right field for his 16th RBI on the year.

Albuquerque's lead was short lived as New Orleans came up with two runs in their half of the second. The first four batters reached before an out was recorded. LF Jordan Brown and C Koyie Hill hit back-to-back singles and 2B Matt downs walked to load the bases for 2B Wilson Valdez. Valdez grounded up the middle into center field scoring Brown and Hill snagging a one run advantage 2-1.

A pair of singles from SS Ed Lucas and 1B Ben Lasater followed by an Angel Castro had the Zephyrs threatening with no outs in the third. Two batters later, Downs singled them in extending the Zephyrs lead to 4-1.

Runs came in pairs for New Orleans as they put another two on the board in the sixth. Ben Lasater led off with his second double of the season and eventually came in on a Hill sacrifice fly. Brown, who reached on an error by RF Rusty Ryal, scored the second run of the frame on Castro's second wild pitch of the game.

Down 6-1 in the fifth, Federowicz hit a moon shot over the left field wall bringing to Topes to within four of New Orleans. Federowicz, the Isotopes catcher, has hit five homers in 12 games since joining the club. CF Chili Buss hit his third triple of the year in the inning.

The Topes came within one of run of New Orleans with the help of two long balls in the seventh. Van Slyke cut the four run Zephyrs lead to three, 6-3, with his ninth homer of the 2013. Van Slyke continues to lead to Pacific Coast League in home runs. Later in the inning, Buss belted his sixth homer of the year scoring RF Rusty Ryal on the play. Buss went 3-for-5 on the night with a home run, triple and two RBI.

Topes right-handed starter Angel Castro stumbled in his third start of the season. He fell to 2-2 on the year with a 3.30 ERA. Castro allowed a season-high six runs, four earned, on a season-high 10 hits. RHP Anthony Ortega fired two scoreless innings out of the pen allowing just one hit. RHP Josh Wall added a scoreless inning to the bullpen line. He gave up one hit and struck out one. RHP Steve Ames finished a stellar bullpen performance firing a scoreless ninth. The Topes pen held New Orleans to zero runs since taking over for Castro in the fifth inning.

New Orleans southpaw Duane Below (2-0, 3.27) earned the win tossing six innings. He allowed two runs on 10 hits and struck out seven batters. RHP Chris Hatcher earned his 10th save of the year pitching two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out four.

The Isotopes and Zephyrs do it again in a Sunday matinee tomorrow at 1:35 PM from Isotopes Park in game three of the four-game set. RHP Blake Johnson (2-1, 5.40) is set to take the ball for Albuquerque against LHP Brad Hand (2-1, 2.00) for New Orleans. Catch all of the game action on 610 "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call. Tonight's scheduled fireworks show has been postponed due to high winds for July 27 when the Topes take on the New Orleans Zephyrs at 7:05 PM.