The Albuquerque Isotopes used a 10-run second inning to coast
to a 17-4 victory in an exhibition game over the UNM baseball team
Tuesday night at Isotopes Park.
Because of the blowout, both managers agreed to call the game after seven innings. Despite the big loss, the Lobos said they enjoyed the experience of playing against the minor league Isotopes.
"It was a blast," Pacheco said. "They're nice guys, and they're great players."
Head coach Rich Alday said he was pleased with how his hitters fared in the early innings.
"The top five guys in our lineup are really, really good," he said. "Jordan (Pacheco) did a great job, and so did Chris (Carlson). It was fun."
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The Lobos started strong, with Chris Carlson and Daniel Stovall hitting back-to-back RBI singles in the first to give UNM a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Isotopes left fielder Larry Barnes sent Wilson Delgado home from second base on a single before Lobo starting pitcher Karsten Gaarder struck out Matt Padgett to end the inning.
UNM leadoff hitter Jordan Pacheco smacked a base hit in the top of the second to get on base for the second time.
Garrick Haymore hit into a fielder's choice and then scored his team-high second run after Carlson knocked out a double. It was Carlson's second RBI, also a team high, that gave the Lobos a 3-1 lead.
The bottom of the second inning brought disaster for theUNM pitching staff.
"We didn't pitch well," said Alday. "I wish we could've given them a better game, but those were our relievers out there."
Control was one of the main problems for the Lobo pitchers as they walked 15 Isotopes batters and threw four wild pitches.
Gaarder was removed after one inning because it was an exhibition. Jackie Smith came on to pitch the second in relief but only lasted one-third of an inning. He gave up eight earned runs on three walks and five hits, including a towering grand slam to the Isotopes' Delgado. Tyler Cales then came out of the bullpen for the Lobos to stop the bleeding and was able to get the final two outs of the second, but not before giving up two more runs and three walks.
The Isotopes scored two more in the third when Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer off Bobby Moore. The Lobos scored their onl other run in the fifth inning when pinch-hitter Nick Carlson hit into a fielder's choice that scored Chris Carlson from third.
Pete Bauer of the Isotopes was named the winning pitcher after his scoreless, two-strikeout performance in the third inning. Smith was given the loss
