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'Topes Win Fifth Straight with 6-1 Victory Over RedHawks

April 22, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) - Albuquerque Isotopes News Release


The Albuquerque Isotopes (9-8) got two home runs from Alex Castellanos and a masterful performance by starting pitcher Michael Antonini to cruise to a 6-1 series-opening win against the Oklahoma City RedHawks (12-5) Saturday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The `Topes have won five straight games for the first time since 2010 and have a winning record for the first time in 2012.

Albuquerque jumped on the `Hawks quickly, scoring a run in the top of the first when Castellanos lined a solo homer over the wall in left to put the `Topes on top 1-0.

The RedHawks answered with a run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Fernando Martinez to temporarily tie the game at 1-1, but the Isotopes seized the advantage right back with a four-spot in the third. Once again, it was Castellanos who ignited the rally, blasting a towering one-out solo homer to left, his second in as many at-bats, to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. After Jerry Sands drew a walk, Oklahoma-native Josh Fields roped a double to right, plating Sands all the way from first to extend the edge to 3-1. With two outs and runners on the corners, Tim Federowicz hammered a double off the wall in center, plating both runners and increasing the lead to 5-1, Albuquerque.

For good measure, the `Topes tacked on one more run in the fourth on an RBI single by Fields that made the score 6-1, but it wasn't necessary thanks to the exploits of Antonini (1-0), who earned his first win of the 2012 season. The left-hander tossed 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out a season-high seven. After the first inning, Antonini did not allow a RedHawks runner to reach second base and ended his night firing 97 pitches, 61 of them for strikes.

As great as the starter was, he was picked up by more excellent work from the Isotopes' bullpen, as Brent Leach authored a scoreless 1.1 innings before turning the ball over to Cole St. Clair and Ramon Troncoso, who each delivered a scoreless inning apiece to seal the 6-1 victory.

The `Topes will look for their sixth straight win in a Sunday matinee beginning at 1:05 PM MT at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Right-hander Stephen Fife (1-2, 10.03) will take the mound for Albuquerque against `Hawks right-hander Ross Seaton (No Record).

After a series in Oklahoma City and another in New Orleans, the Isotopes are back home on Monday, April 30 for a loaded homestand that kicks off with the first of three 50-Cent Hot Dog Nights and includes back-to-back weekend fireworks. Tickets for any Isotopes game may be purchased at the Isotopes Park Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or on-line at www.abqisotopes.com or www.ticketmaster.com.


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