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Isotopes split pair with Express
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Albuquerque reliever Henry Bonilla made an emergency start and pitched well, leading the Albuquerque Isotopes (50-46) to a 3-1 win in the second game of a doubleheader with the Round Rock Express (43-54) Tuesday night at Dell Diamond.
In the first contest of the day, which was the completion of a suspended game from June 11, the Isotopes fell to the Express 5-1. Although Bonilla’s four innings-pitched didn’t qualify him for the win, the right-hander held the Express to just one hit and one walk while fanning one. The four innings was Bonilla’s second-longest of the season and the deepest he’d gone into a game since he pitched 4.1 frames in a win at Fresno on May 16.
Bonilla was bolstered with a lead right out of the gate, when Tony Abreu extended his current hitting streak to 13 games by leading off the game with a first inning home run, giving the Isotopes a 1-0 edge.
Albuquerque notched a crucial insurance tally in the fifth thanks to a lead-off double by Chin-Lung Hu, who scampered into third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Abreu to put the visiting team up 2-0.
The Express would threaten the lead with a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Brian Bogusevic, but the Isotopes got it right back with a solo homer by Brett Harper, his first as an Isotope, giving Albuquerque a 3-1 cushion. Closer Scott Strickland, would make sure the two-run advantage held, tossing a scoreless seventh to seal his 19th save and clinch the 3-1 win.
The night-cap was the perfect way to cleanse the palate after a tough opening contest, which was the completion of a game suspended in the second inning on June 11.
Right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado, who coincidentally started the original contest 39 days ago, had his rotation slot come around in time to pick up exactly where he left off in the bottom of the second. After Mark Sacomanno lined the first pitch he saw from Alvarado into center, Jason Smith drove the first pitch he was offered over the right field fence, giving the Express a 2-0 second inning lead after just two pitches. Round Rock would erupt for three more runs in the sixth in a rally orchestrated entirely with two outs. With runners on second and third, Alvardo unleashed a wild pitch, chasing home Tommy Manzella to increase the lead to 3-0.
Chris Johnson followed with a double that plated Brian Bogusevic and Smith singled home Johnson to give the Express a commanding 5-0 edge.
That was plenty for Round Rock starter Josh Muecke (2-5), who held the Isotopes scoreless until the eighth, when he loaded the bases with one out before handing the ball to reliever Geoff Geary, who yielded a sacrifice fly to J.D. Closser that plated Jovanny Rosario with the Isotopes’ only run of the game. Muecke, who relieved Yorman Bazardo, the original starter on June 11, allowed one run on five hits in 5.1 innings walking three and striking out three en route to his second victory of the season in the 5-1 Round Rock win.
Albuquerque will face the Express again on Wednesday behind left-hander Eric Stults (2-1, 4.80), who will take on Round Rock righty Felipe Paulino (1-0, 1.13) in a 6:05 PM MT start from Dell Diamond.
After just four days in Round Rock, the Isotopes return home this Friday for the first of a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The homestand will feature a slew of great promotions, including baseball and drawstring backpack giveaways as well as the third fireworks show of the month.
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