Albuquerque Downed in Ninth by RedHawks

The Isotopes (29-27) fell to the Oklahoma City (31-23) 13-10 after the RedHawks rallied from two down in the ninth to take a 13-9 lead. Right-fielder Che-Hsuan Lin hit a two-run blast tying the score at nine before shortstop Jonathan Villar scored the go-ahead run in the final frame off Steve Ames. Shortstop Justin Sellers exploded offensively for Albuquerque going 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, three RBI and two runs scored.

Oklahoma City jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs in the frame, catcher Carlos Perez drove in two on his fifth double of the season. Centerfielder Robbie Grossman singled up the middle scoring Perez. Centerfielder Matt Angle trimmed the Isotopes deficit to 3-1 on his eighth double of the season to bring home Alex Castellanos.

The Redbirds stretched their advantage to 5-1 on two solo long balls in the third. Three consecutive extra-base hits with two outs in the next half inning pulled the Isotopes to within two runs of Oklahoma City at 5-3. Castellanos (2-for-4, RBI, R) followed doubles by Sellers and Tony Gwynn Jr. (3-for-5, RBI, R) with his second triple of the year plating Gwynn Jr.

Albuquerque earned their first lead of the ballgame in a four-run fourth, capped by a mammoth three-run home run by Sellers, his first of the season with Albuquerque. Catcher J.R. Towles picked up his first RBI as an Isotope on a single in the inning. Third baseman Alfredo Amezaga (3-for-5, 2R, RBI) hit his tenth double of the season, tying Scott Van Slyke for the 2013 team lead.

After the RedHawks plated two in the fifth to tie, Jeremy Moore hit his first triple of the year driving in Amezaga and scoring himself on a throwing error to reclaim the lead for the Isotopes 9-7.

Albuquerque starter Aaron Laffey went four innings and faced two batters in the fifth, allowing seven runs on nine hits and did not factor into the decision. Righty Sean White walked three in his first inning of work back from the disabled list, allowing no runs of his own, but two inherited runners to score.

Anthony Ortega fired three scoreless innings, surrendering four hits. The righty also punched out five hitters and walked one. Righty Steve Ames replaced southpaw Kelvin De La Cruz (0.1 IP) in the ninth. Ames (1-2, 4.82) suffered the loss, surrendering five ninth-inning runs, four earned and allowing his only inherited runner to score. Righty Geison Aguasviva finished the game for Albuquerque striking out the only batter he faced.

Albuquerque picked up one in ninth on an Amezaga single but would get no closer. Southpaw Alex Sogard (1-0, 1.17) earned the win for Oklahoma City firing an inning plus, giving up one hit. Jose Valdez picked up his twelfth save recording the final out of the game. At 4:07, it was the longest nine-inning game of the season for the Isotopes.

The Isotopes and RedHawks take the field tomorrow for a 6:05 PM MDT start in game two of their four-game series. Right-handed pitcher Matt Palmer (1-3, 5.18) is slated to take the ball against Memphis righty Ross Seaton (2-4, 7.78). Catch all of the game action on 610 AM "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.