The Isotopes returned to Albuquerque after a series win in El Paso against the Chihuahuas for a six-game set against the Oklahoma City Comets. The Isotopes would go on to win the series, taking four of the six games.
At the top of the second inning in game one of the series, the Comets got on the board first with a 5-run inning highlighted by left fielder Zach Ehrhard hitting the first inside the park grand slam at Isotopes Park. The Isotopes scored their second run in the 5th and were down 9-2 before a rally in the bottom of the seventh, plating 4 runs.
Game two saw the Comets strike first with an RBI triple from catcher Seby Zavala in the third inning, but Isotopes shortstop Nicky Lopez hit a game-tying home run. The Comets broke the tie in the fourth inning, but an error from the Comets' first baseman, Ryan Ward, in the fifth inning allowed the Isotopes to tie the game once again.
The Isotopes then took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a 2-run single from second baseman Adael Amador. The Comets attempted to rally in the ninth inning, getting a run back, but reliever TJ shook, hunkered down, and got Ehrhard to pop up a ball to right fielder Zac Veen to end the game and give the Isotopes a 4-3 win to even the series.
“We put some good at-bats together, some good swings. We've been attacking our pregame work really well, and everyone is just kind of sticking to the plan,” Lopez said.
Game three began with Ward working an 11-pitch at bat that ended in a home run that highlighted a 4-run first inning from the Comets, putting the Isotopes in another early hole. The Isotopes got on the board in the sixth inning when Vimael Machin’s RBI double chased Comets starting pitcher Cristian Romero from the game. This highlighted a 3-run frame that got Albuquerque right back in the game. The Comets promptly responded, though, as first baseman James Tibbs III hit a home run. This didn’t faze the isotopes as they rallied with 2 outs in the 7th for the 2 runs they needed to lock the game at 5 when first baseman Blaine Crim hit an RBI single.
The Isotopes continued to rally in a game showing the importance of ABS. Third baseman Chad Stevens won a challenge that overturned strike three, then promptly had a base hit, and an inning that looked like 2 outs with nobody on base became a 4-run rally to give the Isotopes the lead in the eighth. This new 9-5 lead would be the final score the Isotopes would win by as they took the series lead.
“That was a great game, the guys got down early, but they showed some real fight and resolve offensively, and the bullpen locked it down for six innings to get us the win,” Colorado Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul Depodesta said.
Game four saw the Isotopes finding themselves on the wrong end of a slugfest. The Comets started the scoring on RBI singles from Ehrhard and second baseman Nick Senzel in the third inning, and another from Comets right fielder Jack Suwinski in the fourth inning. The Isotopes responded, though a sacrifice-fly from Lopez and an RBI triple from Stevens brought the game within one before the madness started.
The 5th inning saw the Comets send twelve men to the plate, and 8 of them came around to score. This inning was highlighted by a 3-run triple from Fitzerald, his second hit of the inning.
The Isotopes did not give up on this game, though. In the 7th inning, the Isotopes sent 14 men to the plate for an 8-run inning of their own. This frame was highlighted by good plate discipline as the Isotopes batsmen worked 8 walks, notably Lopez’s RBI walk to bring the game within 2 runs.
The score held at 13-11 in favor of the Comets until the bottom of the ninth as the Isotopes attempted to rally, and an RBI knock from Machin brought the game within one but with the tying run at third and the winning run at first, the Comets went to reliever Jordan Weems for the game’s elusive 27th out. Weems struck out Crimm to end a 13-12 game that went Oklahoma City’s way.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Isotopes drew first blood in game five of the series on an RBI groundout from Cole Carrigg. The Comets responded with a 3-run third inning. Veen promptly tied the game in the home half of the third inning with a 2-run single. However, that tie would be short-lived as Suwinski hit the first of his two home runs that gave Oklahoma City the lead right back.
In the eighth inning, the Isotopes showed some fireworks offensively. Rallying for five runs and the lead highlighted by a game-tying RBI single from Isotopes left fielder Sterlin Thompson. A Comet's error and wild pitch from former Isotope Antoine Kelly brought home 2 more runs, giving Albuquerque an 8-6 lead, which they would hold onto for the win, and gave the fans a happy postgame firework show.
“They're not giving up any at-bats, and they're just fighting all the way to the end tonight,” Isotopes Manager Pedro Lopez said.
In game six, Crimm’s 3-run blast highlighted a 5-run first inning as the Isotopes got on the board first. The first of four Isotopes home runs in this blowout win. Catcher Braxton Fulford hit a 2-run bomb in the third inning to extend the lead to 6-2 for the Isotopes. Amador and Thompson both hit their first home runs of the year as well to highlight a great day for the Isotopes offense as they plated a total of 17 runs. That was more than enough to win the game and the series.
“It's a different team. We're trying some different things from the past, but all the credit goes to the players. You know, they're doing a really good job,” Lopez said.
The Isotopes will hit the road for a six-game set against the Sacramento River Cats. Game one of the series is Tuesday, April 21.
Elizabeth Bolke is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
Marley Herndon is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
