Sidewinders close to first place. Looks like Enrique Gonzalez could be joining the D'Backs soon.
The Sidewinders broke a 1-1 game open with 9 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to win their 3rd straight over the Albuquerque Isotopes. Enrique Gonzalez was sharp in his 3 scoreless innings of work, allowing just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 6 before he was removed. There wasn’t any signs of injuries or ineffectiveness, so his pitch count was limited for another reason. He could be on standby for a callup to the Diamondbacks after the Orlando Hernandez trade opened up a spot in the rotation. He only threw 54 pitches today.
The Sidewinders got on the board first in the 3rd when a 2-out throwing error allowed Alberto Callaspo to reach and Brian Barden to score from 3rd. That extended Callaspo’s streak of reaching base in every game this month. He would also get 3 walks in the game, including 1 intentional, but he finished 0-2 to snap his hitting streak at 12. Mike Bacsik relieved Gonzalez and struck out the side in the 4th before giving up a run in the 5th after an error by Stephen Drew.
Drew and Carlos Quentin singled to start the 6th and scored on Scott Hairston’s 11th homer of the season. New Isotopes pitcher Chris Young came in and gave up a double and 2 more singles to make it 5-1. After a sac bunt, the Isotopes paid Callaspo and his RISP numbers the ultimate respect by intentionally walking him to load the bases. The move backfired however when Young walked Tucson’s Chris Young to force in the 6th run. With another Chris Young pitching in the Majors for the Padres, it will be very confusing when these 2 join him up in the big leagues. Drew, in his 2nd at bat of the inning, grounded out to bring in run number 7. They tacked on 3 runs in the 7th. With 2 outs and runners at 1st and 2nd, Callaspo walked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored a run and everyone moved up. The other 2 runners scored on Young’s single and a throwing error.
Tucson had more than 10 hits for the 3rd straight day with Barden going 4-5 and Kenny Perez 2-5. Drew’s lone hit extended his hitting streak to 11 games while Quentin was hit by a pitch for 17th and 18th times.
Bacsik got the win and Tony Pena made his first appearance since joining the team from Tennessee. Pena pitched 2 innings, allowing a run on a hit and a walk while striking out 2.
With the win, Tucson has moved within 1/2 a game of their division lead.