Alvarado Awesome As 'Topes Beat Cubs 5-1
Making his final regular season start before he will take the ball in Game Two of the PCL's American Conference Finals at Isotopes Park next Thursday, Alvarado was dominant, allowing just four total base runners on three hits and a walk through six strong innings. At one point from the first to the fourth, the Alvarado (13-10) set down 11 Cubs in a row on his way to his 13th victory of the season, tying a franchise record for wins in season set by Eulogio De La Cruz last year.
Iowa's only threat on the right-hander came in the sixth, when Nate Spears walked, John-Ford Griffin doubled, and Matt Craig walked to load the bases with no outs. Alvarado escaped the jam, however, by promptly striking out Brad Snyder and Steve Clevenger to end the inning a preserve the shutout. Alvarado fanned five batters on the night, increasing his PCL-leading total in Ks to 139 on the season.
Meanwhile, Albuquerque's offense was set in gear by the irrepressible Tony Abreu, who put the Isotopes on the board in the top of the third with a home run to right with Xavier Paul on first to give the 'Topes a quick 2-0 lead.
The Isotopes struck again in the fourth when Hector Luna led off the frame by reaching on a throwing error by third baseman Nate Spears and scampered into third on a single by J.D. Closser. Sergio Garcia then slammed a double to left, plating both runners and doubling the Albuquerque advantage to 4-0.
Abreu put the finishing touches on the Isotopes' scoring in the fifth, roping a lead-off double and trotting home two batters later on a single by Mitch Jones to bolster the lead to 5-0. Abreu finished the game with three hits in five at-bats while scoring twice and driving in a pair to lead the Albuquerque attack.
Iowa mounted one last rally in the ninth on Isotopes reliever Dwayne Pollok. Craig led off with a single, scampered into second on defensive indifference, and scored on a double by Snyder to spoil the shutout and put the Cubs on the board 5-1. Pollok would end the uprising, however, with a pair of groundouts to finish off the 5-1 Isotopes win.
Albuquerque continue its regular season ending series with Iowa tomorrow with right-hander Tim Corcoran (1-0, 5.82 ERA) taking the mound for the 'Topes against I-Cubs righty Ezequiel Astacio (0-0, 18.00 ERA) in a 6:05 PM MT start from Principal Park.
After their trip to Des Moines for a four-game set against the Cubs, the 'Topes return home to kick off the 2009 PCL Playoffs at Isotopes Park on Wednesday, September 9.
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 www.albuquerquebaseball.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information or for a complete list of 2009 promotions visit www.albuquerquebaseball.com.