Hale Storms Through The River Cats But Isotopes Lose

David Hale stormed through the River Cats but the team falls short. (Mandatory Credit: Moji and the Albuquerque Isotopes)

David Hale was coming off a start that found balls getting out due to the wind and was looking to settle down this game. He did his part but the bullpen failed him and the Isotopes as the Topes fall 5-2 to the Sacramento River Cats to tie the series at 1-1.

Hale was working well. The first inning was odd with two infield hits and a dribbler scoring a run but after that Hale settled in. It wasn’t until the forth inning that Hale saw any issue. In the fourth he gave up a lead off single to Jarret Parker. Parker would reach second on a fielding error by Jose Rivera. Hale would strike out Trevor Brown and would get a grounder from John Bowker that would move the runners to second and third. They would then intentionally walk Roger Cedeno to put the force out at any base and bring up the pitcher, Austin Fleet. Fleet would get a hold of the ball but Brandon Barnes would run it down ending the inning for Sacramento and getting Hale out of trouble.

The fifth brought some trouble for Hale. He opened the inning with a strike out of Brett Jackson but was extremely wild to Ehire Adrianza, walking him and prompting a lengthy mound visit from Albuquerque. Singles by Adam Duval and Jarrett Parker would bring home Ehire Adriannza before Juan Perez would ground into a double play to end the inning. Hale would exit the game down 2-1 but Matt McBride would lace a solo homer just inside the foul pole to tie the game.

Justin Miller would not have a smooth seventh. He would strike out Brett Jackson before allowing a hit to Ehire Adrianza and a home run to Adam Duvall. His tenth in the PCL. He would strike out the side to end the inning after the damage was done.

LaTroy Hawkins would come in in the eighth. He would get Trevor Brown to lead off the inning but then allow a double to John Bowker. Ronny Cedeno would strike out. Darren Ford was looking for his second inside the park home run in back-to-back days as he tripled off the right field wall over Tim Wheeler‘s head. That scored Bowker. Brett Jackson flied out.

The Topes couldn’t respond in the seventh or eighth and called on Jairo Diaz to keep the game at 5-2 in the ninth.

Diaz would cruise through the ninth, retiring Adrianza for the first time all day, striking out Duvall and getting Jarrett Parker to ground out to round out the ninth.

The Isotopes would send Dustin Garneau up first in the ninth. Garneau has been struggling seeing his batting average drop below .280. He would strike out to cap an 0-4 day. Ben Paulsen would pinch hit for the pitcher. Another player in a slump, batting .264 going into Sunday. He would see a 2-0 count as the catcher and pitcher for the River Cats were not on the same page. Even after a mound visit, River Cats pitcher, Hunter Strickland, couldn’t find the strike zone.
Strickland would get Angelys Nina to ground into a slow roller but Paulsen was able to break up the double play. It would be for not as Jose Rivera would ground out for the third out.

The game was played in front of 6,098 people and took just under three hours. The Topes will look to get back in the win column tomorrow, as Tyler Matzek looks to bounce back at 7 p.m. MT against these same River Cats.

Troy Olsen can be heard, talking Topes, every Friday around 5:35 p.m, on 610 KNML. Listen on tunein, IHeartRadio, or the 610 Website along with many other places. Listen in and let me know what you think!