PCL: McPherson homers as Isotopes lose, again

The New Mexican |

7/1/2008 - 7/2/08

Some things just don't seem to change.

Dallas McPherson keeps hitting home runs.

And the Albuquerque Isotopes keep losing on the road.

Despite McPherson's league-leading 29th home run of the season, the Isotopes let one big inning doom them in a 6-2 loss to the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond in Pacific Coast League baseball on Tuesday night.

Since beating the Iowa Cubs to open their 10-game, eight-day road trip, Albuquerque (39-46) has lost six of seven games and its last five to fall to its worst record of the season. And the Express, who have settled in the basement of the American Southern Division for much of the season, are only a game behind the Isotopes.

The unraveling began in the sixth inning, as Round Rock (38-47) scored five times off two home runs. The first was a three-run shot by Nick Gorneault off of starter Dallas Trahern to give the Express a 4-2 lead, then Yordany Ramirez roped a two-run homer beyond the center-field fence to cap the rally.

McPherson hit a two-run blast in the first inning to account for all of Albuquerque's runs. The inning also saw three of the Isotopes' six hits on the evening. It's not like Albuquerque wasted many opportunities. The Isotopes stranded only four on base.

Otherwise, Ron Chiavacci strung together six straight zeros to stymie the Isotopes. He struck out five in seven innings of work.

Right-hander Bobby Keppel (7-7, 5.50 ERA) will try to stop Albuquerque's slide today. Righty Josh Miller (4-5, 5.59) takes the mound for Round Rock in a 6:05 p.m. start.