Mitch Jones is still leading the pack.

And that's with one month of big-league time under his belt this season.

When the Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder reached the parent club Los Angeles Dodgers last month, he sat atop the home-run leaderboard in Pacific Coast League baseball. He was still there upon his return to Triple-A last week.

On Thursday, he maintained that spot with a two-run home run that lifted the Isotopes to a 4-2 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs in front of a crowd of 7,940 at Isotopes Park.

The Isotopes (46-44) are a game up on Oklahoma City for the top spot in the American South Division.

Jones hit his second home run in as many games — the first coming on Sunday just before the All-Star break — and now has 23. His fifth-inning blast was a two-run shot that broke a 1-all tie with New Orleans (41-48). The hit also broke his tie with Salt Lake's Sean Rodriguez for the league lead.

When Jones was called up to Los Angeles on June 16, he held that spot with 21 homers. Nothing had changed when he returned July 8.

Albuquerque second baseman Tony Abreu upped the margin to 4-1 in the sixth with an RBI single, and the Isotopes' pitching took care of the rest.

Starter Giancarlo Alvarado (7-7) went six innings, allowing a run on three hits while striking out nine Zephyrs. The bullpen was equally stout as Josh Lindblom and Travis Schlicting each fired a scoreless inning.

Closer Scott Strickland gave up a one-out solo homer to Michael Ryan in the ninth for 4-2, but closed out the inning for his 18th save.

NEXT GAME

New Orleans Zephyrs (41-48) at Albuquerque Isotopes (46-44)

When: Today, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Isotopes Park

Probable starters: RHP Hayden Penn (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Eric Stultz (1-1, 5.00).

Radio: 610 AM, KNML