51s can’t hold early lead, fall to Albuquerque
After scoring two runs in the top of the first, the 51s were unable to follow up on their strong start and eventually fell to the Albuquerque Isotopes 8-4 in a Pacific Coast League game Friday night at Isotopes Park.
“We just didn’t have enough time to catch up,” manager Wally Backman said. “The offense needs a break once in a while. You have to be able to win games when you score four or five runs sometimes.”
The 51s’ 2-0 lead turned into a 3-1 lead in the middle of the third before the wheels fell off. The Isotopes scored a run in the third, three in the fourth and a pair in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. Albuquerque added one more run in the eighth.
Former MLB All-Star Jose Reyes, who is rehabbing with Albuquerque, played his normal role of catalyst, hitting a home run, stealing a base and scoring twice.
Las Vegas starting pitcher Rafael Montero lasted just four innings, surrendering nine hits and five runs, including two homers, raising his ERA to 5.08 on the season.
“He was behind in the count a lot tonight,” Backman said. “He had to throw fastballs in fastball counts. His secondary stuff, he wasn’t able to throw it over the plate when he was behind in the count.”
Gavin Cecchini homered for the second time this season, and Dilson Herrera and Travis Taijeron each had extra-base hits for the 51s.
The loss evened the season series between the teams at three. They split a four-game set in Las Vegas in April.
