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Drop by drop, two buckets filled in Dean Treanor's office.

But, as problems go, the leaky ceiling ranks second to the holes in the Isotopes manager's bullpen.

Treanor only has two sure available relievers tonight after a twin meltdown Sunday at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque dropped two key games to New Orleans, 14-4 and 7-4.

"I don't know if that's a sign," said Treanor, looking at the buckets in front of his desk. "We sprung a leak."

The good news for Albuquerque? Tonight's scheduled starter, Daniel Barone, has displayed endurance in his relatively short Triple-A tenure. He has gone at least six innings in six of seven starts.

Beyond Barone, the Isotopes must survive on relievers Harvey Garcia and Ross Wolf, each right-hander good for one inning.

After that . . . who knows?

A pitcher from the Florida Marlins organization should be available for emergency relief tonight, but as of late Sunday night Treanor didn't know who that would be.

"They're scrambling trying to find us some innings," Treanor said.

Whoever Albuquerque gets likely will arrive via red-eye flight. Still this sleep-deprived mystery man at least will be an option, unlike . . .

Roy Corcoran, who has thrown in three straight days.

Erasmo Ramirez, who made two appearances this weekend.

Nate Field, who fired away Sunday.

Overuse depleted those three. The circumstances of Chris Young and Ben Julianel were unique.

Young left Sunday's first game - a makeup of a July 15 postponement in New Orleans - because of tightness in his right forearm. Treanor later said Young had been placed on the disabled list.

Julianel started Sunday's second game because Wes Obermueller wasn't quite ready. Obermueller had been recently sent to Albuquerque by the Marlins.

Treanor was so low on pitchers he had to use utility infielder Andrew Beattie to wrap up Game 1 Sunday.

"When, in two games, the guy that throws best for you is a second baseman, you know you're in trouble," Treanor said. "It's one of the things I hate to do. It doesn't look good. But it was a necessity."

Treanor might have more juggling ahead of him after tonight's game - the winner of which will hold first place in the PCL's American Southern Division.

Albuquerque's next road trip makes stops in Tucson (starting Tuesday) and Las Vegas, Nev., where potential triple-digit temperatures and two of the league's top three offenses could melt the Isotopes bullpen quickly.

"We've got our hands full," Treanor said.