It has been a strange pattern for the Albuquerque Isotopes.

A club long known for its hitting has suddenly learned how to pitch.

It continued on Saturday as a quartet of Isotopes pitchers combined for a 4-2 win over the Omaha Royals at Rosenblatt Stadium in Pacific Coast League baseball.

Pitching has helped Albuquerque (39-36) to a 9-2 run over the last 11 games, which in turn has led to a three-game lead in the American South Division.

Stephen Randolph continued a healthy trend with five shutout innings, allowing four hits and three walks. In his last 21 innings, Randolph (4-2) has surrendered only one run. He also added to another favorable statistic: Isotopes starters have an earned-run average of 0.87 over the last five games (three earned runs in 312/3 innings).

It has helped the Isotopes overcome an offense that has scored only 12 runs on that span, although their hitters put five hits against the Royals to good use.

An RBI double by Luis Maza and an RBI single from Sergio Garcia made it 2-0, Albuquerque, after two innings. The margin grew to 4-0 in the sixth with an RBI double by Juan Gonzalez a Garcia sacrifice fly.

Omaha (28-47) scored twice to halve the deficit, but managed only one baserunner over the final three innings. Albuquerque closer Scott Strickland recorded a three-up, three-down ninth for his 14th save.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled to pit Isotopes righthander Giancarlo Alvarado (5-5, 3.10) against Royals lefty Heath Phillips (3-7, 6.81). First pitch is at 12:05 p.m.