PCL: Isotopes roster changes proving fruitful in series against Iowa

| The New Mexican

6/26/2008 - 6/27/08

The Albuquerque Isotopes said goodbye to some and hello to others before shoving off on a 10-game, eight-day Pacific Coast League road trip on Wednesday.

The parent Florida Marlins called up catcher Paul Hoover and pitcher Frankie De La Cruz just one day apart. Florida sent down catcher Mike Rabelo and righty Matt Lindstrom to replace them. And with that, the Isotopes began a six-game series with the Iowa Cubs on Thursday.

The results have been good so far — at least for the Isotopes — as Albuquerque overpowered Iowa 9-6 at Principal Park in front of 7,016 fans in Des Moines. Florida lost 6-1 to Tampa Bay, also on Thursday, to complete a three-game sweep by the Rays.

The Isotopes (38-40) hit the ball like they were in the light air of the Duke City. Albuquerque smacked three first-inning home runs to spot itself a 5-0 lead. Jai Miller hit a two-run shot to center for his 12th of the year; Dallas McPherson sent a shot to right one batter later to increase his PCL-leading total to 27 on the season, and Tagg Bozied brought home Robelo on another two-run blast.

Albuquerque added a run in the second inning on another Miller homer and scored three more in the seventh to go up 9-3. Miller and McPherson were both 3-for-4 with three RBIs. The run support buoyed a quality start by Dallas Trahern (3-6), who went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out five in the win.

Iowa (45-35) rallied in the bottom of the ninth with three runs off Lindstrom, but the struggling reliever hung on.

Right-hander Bobby Keppel (7-6, 4.97) will face righty Justin Berg (2-4, 6.75) today at 4:05 p.m. in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Starters from that point are to be announced and both team's pitching is likely to become an issue with another double dip on Saturday.