Tacoma Rainiers Blank Albuquerque Isotopes 8-0
Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 07:35AM
MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Racoma, WA - After a promising start to their trip to the Pacific Northwest in which the Albuquerque Isotopes (50-68) won the first three games, they limped home after an 8-0 defeat to the Tacoma Rainiers (63-55) for their fifth straight loss Tuesday afternoon at Cheney Stadium. Of the four hits on the day by Albuquerque, Dallas McPherson had the only extra-base hit when he hit his seventeenth double to lead off the second inning.
Prentice Redman singled to right-center field to kick start the second inning for the Rainiers only to dash to second after a wild pitch thrown by Isotopes starter Rick VandenHurk. With a runner in scoring position, Tug Hulett drew a one-out walk that set up Victor Diaz, who cleared the bases when he slugged an opposite field three-run homer over the right field fence that gave Tacoma an early three-run lead, 3-0.
Tacoma tacked on another run in the fourth when Matt Tuiasosopo cracked a 1-1 offering over the left field fence for a leadoff solo blast, extending the Rainiers advantage to four, 4-0.
Luis Valbuena led the fourth inning off with a leadoff walk only to race around the bases and score when Redman doubled to right-center field for the five-run edge, 5-0. Following a fly out to left that advanced Redman to third, Diaz grounded into a fielder’s choice that drove in Redman for the second run of the inning, 6-0.
Redman singled to left-center to lead off the sixth for Tuiasosopo who continued his power surge when he hit his second homer on the day, a two-run blast over the left field fence that helped Tacoma elongate its lead to eight, 8-0.
A quartet of Tacoma pitchers, Brandon Morrow, Scott Shoemaker, Denny Stark, and Jon Huber combined to silence the Isotopes offense for the four-hit shutout that completed the sweep for the Rainiers. The last time the Isotopes were shutout was on July 20th at New Orleans when the ‘Topes lost to the Zephyrs 6-0.
After a day off, the Isotopes return to action in the Duke City on Friday, August 8th against the Oklahoma RedHawks, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Taking the hill for the ‘Topes will be right-hander Dallas Trahern (4-10, 6.70) who will square off against RedHawk righty Elizardo Ramirez (9-4, 4.29) at Isotopes Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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