Redbirds Suffer Walk-Off Defeat In Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Elian Herrera hit a bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Albuquerque Isotopes a 2-1 walkoff win over the Memphis Redbirds in the opener of a four-game series on Monday at Isotopes Park.

Albuquerque quickly loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Jorge Rondon on leadoff double, hit by pitch, and walk. Keith Butler then entered the ninth to attempt to end the rally, but surrendered the game-winning single to the first batter faced on a 3-2 count.

Memphis has scored two runs or less in its last five consecutive games and in nine of its last 11.

Oscar Taveras had two infield hits, while Chad Huffman recorded an RBI double. Greg Garcia singled and stole a base.

Redbirds starter Michael Wacha allowed one run (home run) on five hits and a pair of walks to lower his ERA to 1.86 through his first five starts. The right-hander also fanned three and induced 12 groundouts in 84 pitches, 60 for strikes.

The game remained scoreless until Herrera lead off the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer into the Redbirds bullpen. The long ball was Herrera's first of the season. Next batter Matt Angle would follow with a triple, but was stranded on third as Wacha worked out of the jam.

After back-to-back base hits from Kolten Wong and Taveras in the seventh, Herrera robbed Ryan Jackson of an RBI single with a diving stop to end the rally.

Albuquerque starter Angel Castro worked a season-best seven scoreless for a no-decision, yielding four hits and striking out five. Castro had two double plays turned behind him in order to face the minimum through six.

After Castro exited the contest, the Redbirds were able to tie the game on reliever Peter Moylan. Greg Garcia opened the frame with a single, stole second base, and came home to score the tying run on a pinch-hit double by Huffman.

Barret Browning struck out one over one scoreless inning. Rondon (1-2) walked four, including three on 12 consecutive pitches, in his second loss of the season.

Chad Withrow (2-0) stranded one inherited runner over 1 1/3 scoreless to earn the victory.

The Redbirds and Isotopes continue their series at 7:35 pm CT on Tuesday at Isotopes Park.