Isotopes Drop Series Opener to Space Cowboys, 8-6

September 1, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Albuquerque Isotopes News Release

Sugar Land, TX – Despite plating six runs over the first four innings, the Albuquerque Isotopes were unable to piece together a shutdown inning while seeing their own bats scuffle for the remainder of the contest. The Sugar Land Space Cowboys claimed an 8-6 victory in the opener of a five-game series Wednesday night at Constellation Field.

Albuquerque (54-69) has set a season-worst by losing six consecutive ballgames.

After Sugar Land starting pitcher Shawn Dubin retired the first two batters of the game, Carlos Pérez, Sam Hilliard and Coco Montes strung together three consecutive singles, with Montes giving Albuquerque a 1-0 lead.

The Space Cowboys (59-65) immediately leveled the score when Corey Julks lifted an opposite-field homer off Brandon Gold leading off the home first.

With the bases loaded in the second, Wynton Bernard lifted a deep sacrifice fly, before Dom Nuñez connected on an RBI double, making it 3-1 in favor of the Isotopes.

Julks drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second, before Sugar Land plated four in the third. Korey Lee, Marty Costes and Alex De Goti all had RBI hits in the third for the Space Cowboys.

Albuquerque put together another singles rally in the fourth, as Bernard, Nuñez and Hilliard all came through with an RBI base hit, making it 6-6.

The Space Cowboys scored the eventual game-winning run in the fourth when Taylor Jones doubled home Lee. In the seventh, Lee provided the final run of the contest with a solo homer off J.D. Hammer.

Topes Scope: – The Isotopes are in the midst of their worst losing streak since dropping seven in a row from Aug. 20-27, 2021.

– In the last 11 time in which Albuquerque has scored in a frame (not including bottom of the ninth in home games they lost), they have held their opponent scoreless just one time in the ensuing half-inning.

– The Topes failed to hit a home run for the first time since Aug. 6, ending the club record at 18 consecutive games with a long ball.

– Albuquerque has scored in the first inning in six of the last seven road games.

– Julks’ leadoff homer was the second surrendered by Albuquerque this season; Kevin Pillar did it on May 6 at Oklahoma City. It was the fifth leadoff blast surrendered by Gold in 35 starts as an Isotope, dating back to the beginning of 2021.

– The four-run third by the Space Cowboys marked the 56th time the Isotopes have surrendered four or more runs in a frame this season.

– Nuñez produced his first multi-hit game since July 29 vs. Las Vegas and his first multi-RBI contest since July 3 vs. Sugar Land.

– LJ Hatch was 1-for-3 and has reached safely in 28 of 36 games he has started this season.

– Hammer has an 11.87 ERA over his last five appearances (5.1 IP/7 ER).

– The Isotopes finished August with a .257 batting average and 125 runs, both season-lows for a month. Their 6.98 ERA was the second-highest in a month this season, behind the 7.32 mark posted in May.

– Albuquerque has lost all five series openers at Sugar Land since the clubs started squaring off last season. The Isotopes have dropped eight consecutive road series openers against the Astros affiliate; their last win was May 27, 2017 at Fresno.

On Deck: Albuquerque and Sugar Land will be back in action Thursday at 6:05 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Zach Neal is slated to start for the Isotopes against Space Cowboys right-hander Brett Conine.

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