After a bad series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Albuquerque Isotopes returned to the Duke City for a weekend homestand versus the Sacramento River Cats. Albuquerque had a huge Game two, but was not able to replicate that power, dropping the series 2-1.
The Isotopes did not start the series on the right foot, surrendering a late rally to the River Cats to lose 5-2 in Game one. Albuquerque center fielder Jordan Beck broke the ice with a two-run homer to give the Isotopes the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Things were going well, until Sacramento tied the score up in the sixth before pulling away with three more runs in the ninth.
The Isotopes fired back with a fierce 11-7 statement win in Game two. The game started off neck-and-neck, and the ‘Topes led 6-5 after two innings before exploding for five runs in the third to pull away.
“We just passed the baton,“ Isotopes left fielder Sterlin Thompson said after the game. “Just a lot of hits, digging deep in counts, working the pitchers. We just grinded (at-bats), a lot of two out runs that we got. The pitching came through that whole stint. They bounced back early in the game, and from the 5th to the 9th, it was just great pitching all around.”
Thompson had a big game, with 3 hits and 2 runs, including a slide into home plate in the second inning.
“I think that my run spot was big, I found some holes, and on that one I just tried to slide through, I got the ball to bounce out, and it was good. (Head Coach Pedro Lopez) was sending me and they had a late send, but I just decided to go with that,” Thompson said.
The Isotopes would look to build off their big victory to take the series in Game three, but the offense was nowhere to be found on Looney Tunes Night, as they lost by a score of 5-1. The Isotopes had only 6 hits after notching 14 in the previous game, and shortstop Ryan Ritter was the only player with multiple hits with 2. The team’s only run was a solo home run by Beck in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two men on base at the bottom of the eighth inning, Albuquerque had their chance to respond, but had issues finding the swing in Game two, and ended up leaving seven players on base.
The Isotopes came up short in the series versus Sacramento, and will have to regroup for a six-game series this week against the Round Rock Express. Luckily for Albuquerque, they will be staying at home again for the series.
Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
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