Isotopes, down 8-2, take 9-8 victory
Wild throw in 9th allows in two runs
It was not your traditional walk-off win.
The Isotopes rallied from a six-run deficit — its biggest comeback win this season — beating Oklahoma City 9-8 before an announced crowd of 7,967 at Isotopes Park on Wednesday night.
Down to their last out, Dustin Garneau walked and Rafael Ynoa was hit by a pitch.
Daniel Castro barely got a piece of a Brandon Morrow 3-2-pitch, squirting one to firstbase side of the mound.
Morrow fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first was wide of former Isotope Scott Van Slyke into right field.
Garneau and Ynoa came around to score without a play at the plate to give Albuquerque (24-22) the improbable win.
“That’s why people come out and watch baseball,” said Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill. “You never know what’s going to happen. The game is not over until the last out was recorded.”
Hill said he felt for Morrow, who spent several years in the major leagues, and is one step from returning to baseball’s highest level.
“I don’t wish any player to have to go through that — ever,” Hill said. “That’s just part of the game, and it worked out for us. These guys get paid a lot of money and they’re the best in the world. But they’re not mistake-free, and we happened to win (tonight) on a mistake.”
Oklahoma City took command of the game early on with the use of the long ball.
O’Koyea Dickson hit his 11th and 12th homers of the season for the Dodgers (25-19), driving in three runs. Catcher Kyle Farmer belted a two-run homer, and Oklahoma City finished with six extra-base hits.
Dickson hit a solo homer in the second inning, and he and Dodgers catcher Kyle Farmer hit two-run homers in the fifth to open an 8-2 lead.
Despite falling behind by half a dozen runs, the Isotopes relied on a steady bullpen to keep themselves in the game.
Nelson Gonzalez, C.C. Lee, and Matt Carasiti pitched four scoreless innings of relief.
Carasiti picked up his first win of the season, striking out the side in the top of the ninth.
“Our bullpen has been solid all year,” Hill said. “… We are used to them putting up zeroes.”
The ’Topes’ offense kickstarted the comeback with a four-run eighth to draw within 8-7.
Castro’s one-out RBI single to right field scored Garneau to start the rally. After Rosell Herrera doubled to put runners on second and third, pinch-hitter Collin Ferguson ripped a double down the rightfield line to score two more.
Derrik Gibson flew out to right before Mike Tauchman singled up the middle to score Ferguson and make it 8-7. Tauchman, though, was cut down trying to steal second by Farmer to end the inning.
Still, Tauchman finished 3-for-3, with a walk, a sacrifice fly and three RBIs. He raised his batting average to .312.
Garneau reached base safely three times with two hits and three runs scored. Herrera came off the bench in the seventh to go 2-for-2.