Isotopes hold off 51s, 18-16

The first four batters in Albuquerque's order drove in three runs apiece, and the Isotopes withstood a 10-run seventh inning by the 51s to outlast Las Vegas 18-16 in a Pacific Coast League game Wednesday in Albuquerque, N.M.

Jai Miller, Andrew Beattie, Brett Carroll and Jason Wood combined for 12 RBIs to help make a winner of Eulogio De La Cruz (3-1), who gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings.

Albuquerque took a 17-6 lead behind a seven-run sixth inning that featured six consecutive RBI hits with two outs after a fielding error by 51s second baseman Kevin Howard.

Las Vegas (13-13) pulled within a run with its big seventh inning, highlighted by Luis Maza's bases-clearing triple. Maza, who also hit a two-run homer, finished with six RBIs in the leadoff spot.

The Isotopes (15-10) added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, and Joe Nelson gave up one hit in two scoreless innings for his 10th save.