Isotopes lose both games of doubleheader

The Albuquerque Isotopes sputtered and teetered before finally crashing in a doubleheader Friday night.

Visiting Sacramento swept the twinbill by 12-3 and 3-2 scores. It was a fairly listless performance by the home team, particularly with the bats.

“It was not characteristic of what it’s been of late, I think it’s fair to say,” manager Glenallen Hill said. “No worries, our guys have been swinging the bats well and we’ll come out (Saturday) and try to string some bats in one inning together, score some runs and get a rally going.”

The opening game was tied 3-3 when reliever Sam Moll came in for the fifth. He got thumped for four runs on three hits and two walks.

Miguel Castro’s season-long struggles continued in the seventh as he was shelled for five runs, with Travis Ishikawa’s grand slam being the finishing blow.

“Both those guys are having a tough time,” Hill said. “Each have different issues that … they’re trying to work through. Without putting those things in print, that can breed a little inconsistency.”

The Isotopes (48-64) really didn’t do much with the bats despite the three runs. They had just five hits, four of which were singles.

Lefty Ty Blach (12-6), who entered with a 2.72 career ERA in six appearances versus Albuquerque, allowed just three runs over six innings.

Game two was more of a pitchers duel between the River Cats’ Albert Suarez (2-2) and the Isotopes’ Harrison Musgrave (6-6).

Sacramento scored three runs without an extra-base hit. Overall, Musgrave was charged with all the runs on seven scattered hits and two walks.

“I thought he pitched good,” Hill said. “I thought he pitched with a good tempo, executed pitches.”

Albuquerque got a run in the fifth off Suarez. Chris Nelson tripled to lead off the seventh and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Castellanos. The Isotopes would not get another runner on base as Jean Machi picked up his eighth save.

Jordan Patterson went 2-for-3 and Tom Murphy was 1-for-3 in the second game. Among rehabbing Rockies, Gerardo Parra was 0-for-3 in the first game, while Justin Miller pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The Isotopes will try to avoid a series sweep today at 7:05 p.m.