RedHawks' Slump Continues Against Isotopes

Originally Published: Jul 2, 2010 11:26 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- The Albuquerque Isotopes jumped out to an early lead and the Oklahoma City RedHawks fell 5-3 Friday to extend their losing streak to four games.

Isotopes’ (41-38) pitcher Claudio Vargas (1-2) kept the RedHawks (43-37) offense from finding a rhythm, allowing two hits and striking out eight in his six-inning outing. Oklahoma City starter Michael Kirkman (7-3) pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits.

Albuquerque scored its first run of the game on a JD Closser sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the third, Jay Gibbons hit a line-drive single to center field to score Ivan De Jesus Jr. and take a 2-0 lead. In the next at-bat, Jamie Hoffman hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Russ Mitchell home and take a three-run advantage.

The last two scores for the Isotopes came on a Xavier Paul two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to take a controlling 5-0 lead.

All three of Oklahoma City’s runs came in the top of the seventh inning. With two on and no outs, Chris Davis doubled to center field to score Brandon Boggs and Mitch Moreland. Two at-bats later, Chad Tracy hit a sacrifice fly to score Davis from third to pull within two runs.

But the RedHawks only managed three base runners in the next 10 at-bats and were unable to overtake the Isotopes.

Oklahoma City will try to avoid the sweep at 8:05 Saturday in Albuquerque.