PCL: Isotopes pitching shuts down Zephyrs

The New Mexican |

7/18/2008 - 7/19/08

Frankie De La Cruz and three relievers combined on a six-hitter, as the Albuquerque Isotopes defeated the New Orleans Zephyrs 7-1 Friday night in Pacific Coast League baseball.

De La Cruz (10-5) scattered five hits over six innings, including Chris Aguila's solo home run in the sixth, to earn the win.

The right-hander walked five and struck out three.

De La Cruz became just the second Isotope in franchise history to post double-digit victories in a single season.

Jeff Fulchino won a team-record 11 games in 2005.

Taylor Tankersley, Brandon Villafuerte and Logan Kensing pitched one shutout inning apiece in the series opener at Zephyr Field in New Orleans.

Albuquerque scored two runs in the second, plated three runs in the fifth and added single runs in the seventh and eighth en route to its third straight win.

The Isotopes won the final two games against Iowa before the three-day, Triple-A All-Star break.

John Gall, named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team that will compete next month in Beijing, hit his 12th home run of the season to lead-off the seventh inning for the Isotopes.

Chase Lambin and Lorenzo Scott started the scoring with a second-inning single and sacrifice fly, respectively. Scott added a two-run, two-out single in the fifth.

Albuquerque finished with seven hits, six of which came off starter Claudio Vargas. The right-handed Vargas (3-2) lasted only 4 2/3 innings. He walked five, struck out four and was responsible for five earned runs.

The Isotopes (43-56) picked up a game on Oklahoma (56-44) and New Orleans (47-53), who are a respective first and second in the American Southern Division of the PCL.