Isotopes Sink Dodgers With Late Rally

The Albuquerque Isotopes trailed late, but scored runs in the eighth and ninth innings to sink the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 5-4, Monday night at Isotopes Park.

The Dodgers led 4-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth, but Willin Rosario homered on the first pitch of the inning to tie the game.

In the top of the ninth, the Dodgers put the go-ahead run in scoring position with one out, but Scott Scheber struck out and Darwin Barney grounded out to end the inning.

Pinch hitter Cristhian Adames led off the bottom of the ninth inning, and on the first pitch, hit a ground ball that barely stayed fair down third base line for a leadoff double. Adames then advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Rafael Ynoa.

After an intentional walk to Trevor Story, Angelys Nina stepped to the plate with runners at the corners and one out. The Dodgers played their middle infielders back, looking to turn a double play. Nina sent a weak ground ball to the left side of the infield. Corey Seager fielded the ball and threw home, but Adames slid in safely for the game-winning run. Nina was credited with a RBI infield single.

It was the fifth time this season the Dodgers (78-51) lost when leading after seven innings, but the first time against a team besides Colorado Springs. The loss also snapped OKC’s six-game road winning streak, and a 12-game winning streak against Albuquerque. 

With both Iowa and Omaha each winning Monday night, the Dodgers’ first-place lead was cut down to 6.5 games ahead of both the I-Cubs and Storm Chasers.

With the win, the Isotopes (56-74) snapped a four-game losing streak overall, and a five-game losing streak at home.

Austin Barnes started the scoring when he led off the second inning with a solo home run. Barnes’ ninth home run of the season landed in the back of the Oklahoma City bullpen in left-center field, and gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

The Isotopes answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Albuquerque started the inning with three straight hits, including a RBI single by Tommy Murphy and a RBI double by Tim Wheeler.

Albuquerque threatened to score again the third inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Ian Thomas struck out Wheeler on three pitches to end the inning.

The Dodgers pulled even in the top of the fourth. With one out, Andy Wilkins doubled to right field. Two batters later, Schebler hit a RBI single to make it a 2-2 game.

Once again, though, the Dodgers couldn’t keep the Isotopes off the board in the bottom of the inning after they scored. Tim Smalling put down a bunt single with one out and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Rudy Owens. Ynoa came up next and sent a ground ball off the end of his bat that hit first base, resulting in a RBI double that gave the Isotopes a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Seager and Wilkins each collected RBI doubles to put the Dodgers back in front, 4-3.

Wilkins was the only Dodger to collect more than one hit and finished 2-for-4 with two doubles. OKC was limited to six hits, although four went for extra bases.

Isotopes reliever Miguel Castro (1-0) picked up his first win after throwing two scoreless and hitless innings, with two strikeouts.

Danny Coulombe (2-1) pitched in the ninth inning for OKC and allowed his first run since the All-Star Break, resulting in his first loss of the season.