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Relax.

Kenny Baugh had the feeling Tuesday, during a bullpen session: His stubborn slump was about to unravel.

Just be loose.

It came as Baugh, the Isotopes' right-handed starting pitcher, repeated a three-pronged mantra while he threw.

Let it happen.

Over and over, he said it to himself. Baugh continued even through the first few innings of Thursday's series finale against Omaha.

Relax.

Just be loose.

Let it happen.

It worked.

Baugh tossed the first complete game by an Albuquerque pitcher this season, zipping through Omaha 5-1 at Isotopes Park.

"Everybody's happy for Kenny," said second baseman Josh Labandeira. "He has struggled a little bit. I know what kind of pitcher he was and it's good to see him come back to that kind of form."

Not to mention well timed.

Albuquerque's win, combined with a New Orleans loss, pulled the Isotopes to within half a game of the division leading Zephyrs heading into a five-game series that starts tonight.

It also saved Albuquerque's bullpen, which will need to be fresh during a doubleheader Sunday.

Lastly, Baugh's win could restore the confidence of one of Albuquerque's most talented pitchers. The 11th overall pick of the 2001 draft had face-planted into quite a funk.

"When you get in a hole, you start putting a lot of pressure on yourself," Baugh said. "The last month - it's probably been longer than that - I've been in such a hole. I've been trying so many different things. Searching."

Baugh lost his command, which had never happened to him before. He lost three of his last four starts, never lasting more than five innings. He talked to Isotopes pitching coach Rich Gale on numerous occasions. To other pitchers. Even to position players.

"It's so mental," Baugh said.

He found his solution by calming down.

Baugh's biggest sign of trouble Thursday didn't come until the ninth inning. Leading 5-1 he walked Mike Aviles then allowed a single to PCL home run leader Craig Brazell.

Isotopes manager Dean Treanor strolled to the mound, where he usually has one purpose: Change pitchers.

"Tonight, I felt he deserved a chance to talk me out of it," Treanor said. "He did."

It wasn't so much what he said, but how he said it.

Treanor approached his pitcher with a question.

"What do you got for me?"

"I'm good," said Baugh, looking Treanor in the eyes. "I can get a ground ball out of this guy. I feel good and I can get this done."

Treanor's reply: "Quit (messing) around then."

After inducing a ground out, Baugh struck out the last two Royals hitters.

And he set his team up for the New Orleans series.

"We're in a good position," Labandeira said. "The clubhouse mood's good and we're playing well. We'll see what happens."