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Sounds secure 5-4 walk-off win over Isotopes
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The Albuquerque Isotopes (43-41) clawed their way back from a three-run deficit to tie the game only to have the Nashville Sounds (48-37) plate a run in the bottom of the ninth to earn a dramatic 5-4 win Tuesday night at Greer Stadium.
Luis Maza delivered a clutch pinch-hit in the eighth that momentarily knotted the game before the Sounds surged ahead in the ninth. Trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, Jason Repko ignited a rally by drawing a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sergio Garcia, and trotting into third on a groundout by A.J. Ellis.
With the wheels turning in both dugouts, Isotopes manager Tim Wallach initially sent Juan Gonzalez to the plate as a pinch-hitter, to which Nashville skipper Don Money countered by bringing in left-hander R.J. Swindle. Wallach counter-moved by pulling Gonzalez back to the dugout and pinch-hitting Maza, a roll of the dice that worked beautifully, as Maza laced a single to center that easily scored Repko and knotted the game at 4-4.
It was the second time in a week that Maza delivered a big pinch-hit, with the first pinch-hit grand slam in Isotopes history already on the infielder’s resume from July 1. Albuquerque’s momentum would not last long, however, as Cole Gillespie led off the bottom of the ninth with a double off of Isotopes reliever Hyang-Nam Choi. Freddy Parejo then dropped a perfect bunt in front of Choi, who leaped off the mound and attempted to get Gillespie at third, but third baseman Garcia was not in position, giving the Sounds runners on the corners with nobody out. Erick Almonte would end any lingering suspense immediately, knocking a single up the middle past a drawn-in infield to give Nashville a 5-4 walk-off win.
The Isotopes got on the board first by manufacturing a run in the second inning. Repko led off the frame with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on another groundout to give Albuquerque an early 1-0 edge. It would prove to be the last time the Isotopes would enjoy a lead, as Nashville tied the game in the third on an RBI groundout by Hernan Iribarren, before the Sounds surged ahead courtesy of Brendan Katin, who hammered a three-run blast in the bottom of the fourth to give the home team a 4-1 lead. Albuquerque would trim the lead thanks to a long-ball of its own.
After starting pitcher Jason Schmidt led off the fifth with a single, Tony Abreu crushed a two-run homer over the fence in left-field, drawing the Isotopes to within one at 4-3 and setting up the late-inning drama. Schmidt, making his fifth rehab appearance for the Isotopes and his first away from Albuquerque, was solid through six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out six in a no-decision.
Choi (2-1) ended up suffering his first loss of the season while Sounds excellent reliever Ryan Houston (5-1) earned the victory.
Albuquerque will climb aboard a bus and head to Memphis to begin a five-game set with the Redbirds tomorrow. The series will open with Isotopes right-hander Josh Lindblom (1-0, 1.50) battling ‘Birds righty Mitchell Boggs (3-4, 4.90) in a 6:05 PM MT start from AutoZone Park.
The Isotopes are on the road for a series in Memphis before adjourning for the Triple-A All-Star Break. After the break, the Isotopes will host 20 games in 28 days.
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