Following a successful stretch at home against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Albuquerque Isotopes looked to build on that momentum going into their series with the Salt Lake Bees. Albuquerque had its moments, with room to improve as they split the series 3-3.
The Isotopes started off the series with a delicious victory on Taco Tuesday, jumping out to a dominating 10-0 lead through 4 innings. Isotopes Left fielder Zac Veen had a big day with 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs.
“I thought it was a fun game, and I think that getting a good start is always important for the end of the year, and everybody's just trying to stay the course,” Veen said. “I want nothing more than for everybody here to have success, I think when you got a lot of guys swinging the bat well, it makes winning the games a little bit easier, and just really happy that everybody's doing well.”
Albuquerque went on to win 11-3, with five players achieving multiple hits and scoring 11 runs on 16 hits to open up the series.
Game two was a let down for the team as they lost 9-1. The Isotopes held a 1-run lead for most of the game before Salt Lake brought a late surge to win it.
Following the loss, Albuquerque managed to find their swing again and defeat the Bees 8-1 in game three on Youth Summer Program Day. The Isotopes had a minimal lead for the majority of the game, but 6 runs in the seventh inning opened the floodgates to victory.
In game three, Zac Veen extended his hit streak to 25 consecutive games, moving his record to 3rd all-time in Isotopes history before an abrupt ending during the next game in the series.
Isotopes mascot Orbit probably would have liked a better birthday present as the team was shutout 6-0 in game four. The game was scoreless until the seventh inning, when Salt Lake scored 5 runs.
In the pregame for game five, Albuquerque had a ceremony for its newest inductees into the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. The class consisted of former Albuquerque Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy and former Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey III.
Game five started off strong for the Isotopes, leading 6-1 entering the fourth inning; however, the scoring for Albuquerque soon stalled out, allowing the Bees to chip back into the game, scoring 6 unanswered runs to take the lead. That was until the Isotopes tied things up at the bottom of the eighth. The team had opportunities to regain the lead, if not win it, but left players stranded on base in the last three innings, culminating in an 8-7 loss in 10 innings.
Despite back-to-back losses, the Isotopes would have the last laugh and end the series on a high note. In game six, the team jumped out again to a 6-2 lead through three innings, but unlike game five, their scoring did not go cold, later securing five more runs to hold off the Bees 11-5.
The Isotopes were led by first baseman Charlie Condon, who had a huge game six. He finished with 3 hits and 4 runs, including two home runs, extending his total for the season to 17 homers.
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Third baseman Chad Stevens is also continuing to find his way on base and into the recordbooks, extending his on-base streak to 60 games and notching a two-run homer in game six.
After splitting the series with the Bees, the Isotopes now shift their attention to Round Rock, Texas, where they will take on the Round Rock Express in a six-game series through Sunday, July 5.
Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
