PCL: De La Cruz helps Isotopes put end to skid

Pancho Morris | The New Mexican

5/5/2008 - 5/6/08

ALBUQUERQUE — A Monday matinee turned into the feature presentation for the Albuquerque Isotopes in their series with the Tucson Sidewinders at Isotopes Park.

After dropping the first three games against the worst team in the Pacific Coast League — based on win-loss records — the Isotopes defeated the Sidewinders 6-1 in the finale before a season-high 13,013 fans.

Albuquerque allowed a combined 40 runs in the three losses to the Sidewinders, who had won just seven of their first 28 games. With the win, the Isotopes halted a four-game skid and prevented a sweep, which would have been a first for 2008.

The Isotopes (16-14) begin a four-game set tonight in Salt Lake City. The Bees (25-5) are owners of the best record in the PCL.

"Salt Lake is very tough at home," Dean Treanor, Isotopes manager, said. "They swing and they really swing at home. Their pitching is leading the league. We are going to have our hands full."

Unfortunately for the Isotopes, Treanor cannot put the ball into the hands of Frankie De La Cruz.

De La Cruz showed why the Florida Marlins wanted him included in the trade that sent Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers.

The right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings Monday, scattering five hits. He walked one and struck out nine.

The lone walk stood out.

"When you get ahead of hitters and expand the zone, it shows what can happen," Treanor said of De La Cruz's performance. "When you don't, you saw what happened the first three games. You saw much, much different swings today."

It's true.

Tucson entered the game with a team batting average of .438 against Isotopes pitching. De La Cruz (4-1) limited the Sidewinders to a two-out double in the first. It was the lone extra-base hit until Donnie Kelly's double in the ninth off closer Joe Nelson.

By then, Albuquerque had six runs on the scoreboard. Jason Wood plated two with a two-out, first-inning home run. John Gall added a two-out RBI double in the fifth, and Dallas McPherson's two-run single with two outs in the seventh provided insurance.