JP France Strikes Out Season-High 10 Batters in Albuquerque

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) *– *JP France matched his season high of eight strikeouts in two of his last four outings entering his Wednesday start.

He re-set his season high and matched his Triple A career high with 10 strikeouts through five innings Wednesday night against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

The Space Cowboys fell to a late surge from Albuquerque, losing 11-3 at Isotopes Park.

France is tied for second in the Pacific Coast League with 83 strikeouts, trailing only teammate Hunter Brown (85). He has struck out 36 batters over his last five outings, spanning 24 2/3 innings pitched.

The Space Cowboys knotted the game at 2-2 in the third on an RBI triple from Korey Lee and RBI groundout from Pedro León. Lee has hit .311 (14x45) with 14 RBI over his last 12 games. León stole his third base over his last two games, giving him 22 on the year, which is tied for second-best in the PCL.

David Hensley put the Space Cowboys up 3-2 in the sixth on an RBI single. Hensley finished the night 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and has driven in nine runs over his last seven games. Taylor Jones came around to score on Hensley’s third single of the night and went 2-for-4 with a double.

Albuquerque scored a run in the sixth, three in the seventh and five in the eighth. Carlos Pérez and Jonathan Morales each hit solo home runs. Wynton Bernard went 2-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBI.

Brown will take the mound for the Space Cowboys at 7:35 p.m. on Thursday at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque is scheduled to start righty Riley Smith.