Isotopes are now home for five

Albuquerque goes 3-2 on trip but loses ground in division

It’s a theme weekend for Albuquerque Isotopes, who begin a five-game homestand and series today against the Fresno Grizzlies, the TripleA affiliate of the Houston Astros.

The promotions this week involve fantasy that’s entirely different from a draft and a lineup change. It’s Harry Potter Night on Friday, Star Wars night on Saturday.

The baseball zealots will welcome back an Isotopes team that is 28-25 and just won three of five at Sacramento. But the Isotopes still lost ground during the series, from two games behind to three behind first-place Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific South Division.

The theme from Tuesday in Sacramento would have been something like: It’s good this only counts for one loss.

The host River Cats put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off Isotopes starter Yency Almonte (1-3), whose struggles continue. He was KO’d after allowing four runs and recording only two outs in his last start.

The roster has only been tweaked slightly in the last few days. Utility infielder Pat Valaika, who was hurt in spring training and hasn’t found his swing yet in Denver, gets a chance to do so with Albuquerque. Ryan McMahon went back up to the Rockies.

As far as somebody running hot back into town, Isotope infielder Anthony Phillips has reached base in 10 of his last 15 plate appearances.