Carlos Triunfel plays hero again as Isotopes win

ALBUQUERQUE -- For the second time in three nights, Carlos Triunfel delivered a game-winning extra-base hit in the eighth inning to give the Isotopes a win. Triunfel doubled up the center field hill in the eighth inning to score Roger Bernadina from first base in Albuquerque's 5-4 win on Monday night at Isotopes Park.

Bernardina reached on an infield single to the pitcher with two outs in the eighth against Dan Runzler, then crashed into Travis Ishikawa at first base. Trainers came out to check on both Bernadina and Ishikawa, but both appeared to be okay and stayed in the game.

After the game Bernardina had his left hand heavily bandaged with ice.

"We'll see how it goes tomorrow," Bernadina said.

Triunfel also broke a tie on Saturday night with a game-winning home run to beat Sacramento.

The top of the ninth was no picnic for closer Jose Dominguez, who allowed two singles to open the inning, then saw Triunfel drop a throw at first base on a sacrifice attempt to load the bases with nobody out.

But Dominguez got a ground out for a force play at home for the first out, then a strikeout of Nick Noonan and a pop out from Juan Perez to end the game.

"He's just got to do a better job of coming in out of the pen right off the bat, kind of starting the way he has been finishing," manager Damon Berryhill said. "It's been kind of a trend the last few times out."

None of Dominguez's last seven outings have been clean. He has allowed eight hits and three walks during that span, but has rebounded to allow just two runs during that span.

Zach Lee overcame early struggles to last six innings. He allowed two runs in the first, but the Isotopes recovered to take a 4-2 lead.

Lee ran into trouble in the third inning, allowing back-to-back home runs to Perez and Mark Minicozzi with one out. After walking a batter Lee allowed another long drive, off the bat of Brandon Hicks, but Joc Pederson climbed the hill in straightaway center field and made a nice back-handed catch to rob him of extra bases.

Pederson ended the inning running a long way in to snag a soft fly ball in short center field off the bat of Guillermo Quiroz.

Lee needed 52 pitches to get through those first three innings, but recovered to retire eight of his next 10 batters needing just 31 pitches to throw three scoreless innings to get through six. Lee joins Red Patterson and Carlos Frias giving the Isotopes three straight starts of six or more innings.

"Early on he tried to challenge with fastballs and was missing his spots, and they kind of jumped on him a little bit," Berryhill said. "He made an adjustment, started throwing the changeup a little bit more, and mixed in the slider and was able to pitch another solid three [innings] for us."

Matt Magill needed just four pitches to throw a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Magill has allowed just one unearned run in 7⅓ innings in his last five outings, dating back to July 5, with six strikeouts and a walk during that span.

"His last five or six outings have been real solid. He's throwing the baseball a lot better. His confidence is up, he's throwing a real plus breaking ball. He has started relaxing in that role and has been aggressive in the strike zone, and made stuff happen early."

On the mend

After taking Sunday off, Chone Figgins played nine innings at shortstop and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout at the plate. In four games in his rehab assignment with the Isotopes, Figgins was 3-for-11 with four walks and six runs scored, and played third base, second base and left field in addition to shortstop.

Scott Elbert made his third appearance for Albuquerque in five days, pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Elbert induced a fly out, then allowed a single and threw a wild pitch, but got a pop out and a ground out to end the frame.

Up next

Jeff Bennett gets the start for Albuquerque on Tuesday night against Fresno, with Jason Berken starting for the Grizzlies.

Monday particulars

Home runs: Tim Federowicz (9); Juan Perez (1), Mark Minicozzi (6)

WP - Matt Magill (6-5): 3 up, 3 down

LP - Dan Runzler (1-5): 2 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Sv - Jose Dominguez (10): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 strikeout