Isotopes drop Stingers

After another decisive loss Thursday night, a 9-1 defeat to Albuquerque at Franklin Covey Field, Stingers' manager Mike Brumley was blunt in his assessment of his club.

"Right now as far as the PCL is concerned, we don't have a good enough lineup to compete," he said.

For Salt Lake it was the 15th loss in its last 20 games after starting the season 11-2.

It marked the second straight night the Isotope hitters teed off on Stingers' pitching while the Stingers had little punch against Albuquerque starter Michael Tejera, who improved to 3-0 on the year.

"I don't know much about him, but he had a pretty good fastball and a good curve," Brumley said. "He gave us fits tonight."

On the other hand, the Isotopes followed up their 18-hit performance of the previous night with 12 hits off four Stinger pitchers for another rout. Matt Padgett's grand slam in the third inning provided the Isotopes with all the runs they needed.

Even though Brumley said his team wasn't good enough to compete in the league, he isn't down on his players.

With the parent Angels suffering injuries, the Stingers lost two of their top players, Alfredo Amezaga and Robb Quinlan, to the majors and have a couple of players out with injuries and others hobbling with injuries.

"It's tough, but our guys are battling," Brumley said. "Once we get healthy we should be fine."

Brumley had to go with another makeshift lineup after shortstop Casey Smith was injured in the ninth inning the night before in a collision with teammate Jake Thrower.

With Smith out, Thrower had to move to short and Billy Boyer, who was playing high school ball this time a year ago, took over at second. Alex Pelaez, who usually plays third, started at first and Adam Riggs, the usual designted hitter, played third. Another infielder, Brian Specht, is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

Brandon Emanuel, who hasn't pitched much this year because of an injury, started for Salt Lake and was doing fine until the Istotopes loaded the bases with two outs in the third. Then Padgett, who hit two homers the night before, smacked a home run over the right field fence.

Albuquerque picked up a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth before the Stingers finally scored in the bottom of the sixth. Brian Gordon singled in Adam Riggs with two out to keep the goose-egg off the board for Salt Lake.

The Isotopes added three more in the eighth to add to their lead.

GAME NOTES: The series concludes tonight with Chris Bootcheck (2-3) going against Albuquerque's Aaron Small (1-4).

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