MiLB AAA Baseball News

Bernard Rescues Isotopes in 7-6 Victory over Chihuahuas

Isotopes Come up Short against Space Cowboys in 11 Innings, 5-4

September 11, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL)Albuquerque Isotopes News Release

Albuquerque, NM – The Wynton Bernard show took center stage on Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park. Bernard tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning, then singled home the winning run in the tenth to cap a five-hit day, as Albuquerque defeated El Paso 7-6 in the series finale.


The Isotopes snapped a franchise-worst 10-game home losing streak with the victory, and also ended a string of 11 consecutive losses to the Chihuahuas.

With the victory, the Isotopes (57-76) also avoided a seven-game sweep at the hands of the Chihuahuas (75-60).

Albuquerque immediately jumped on El Paso starter Jay Groome for two runs in the first inning. Wynton Bernard led off with a double before scoring on Jimmy Herron’s sacrifice fly. Carlos Pérez then launched a solo homer, making it 2-0.

After the Chihuahuas got a run in the second, Bernard cashed in another double in the bottom half, plating Tim Lopes.

Jonathan Morales continued to swing a hot bat with an RBI single in the third, plating Coco Montes, who doubled.

After Smith exited following his quality start, Matt Dennis took over on the mound in the seventh, and was able to strand two runners. However, Dennis allowed a leadoff double in the eighth to Kyle Martin, who scored on Thomas Milone’s single.

Joel Peguero then relieved Dennis. After giving up a one-out double to put runners on second and third, he got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout in which Lopes made a great diving stop at second base.

With one out in the top of the ninth, C.J. Hinojosa lined a two-run homer into the Chihuahuas bullpen, giving them their first lead at 5-4.

Bernard led off the ninth with a first-pitch solo smash over the wall in center field, tying the game at 5. Sam Hilliard pinch-hit and drew a walk, but the next three hitters were retired, sending the ballgame to extra frames.

El Paso scored a run in the 10th, but a double play grounder ended the frame. In the bottom half, Morales was hit by a pitch, then Lopes hit a grounder to second which was muffed by Kervin Pichardo, loading the bases. Ryan Vilade singled to tie the game, then an out later Bernard delivered his heroics, sending the Isotopes into a frenzy.

Right-handed pitcher Riley Smith was very strong for Albuquerque, turning in six innings of five-hit, two-run ball with eight strikeouts, a season-high.

Topes Scope:

– Bernard recorded the second five-hit game of his professional…

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