’Topes topple firstplace Chihuahuas
Albuquerque gets a win, hungry fans eat 25,310 50-cent hot dogs
Wednesday was a night for man bites dog at Isotopes Park.
Mike Tauchman blasted a two-run homer in the first inning and the Isotopes went on to take a bite out of the first-place El Paso Chihuahuas with a 7-1 victory.
The theme spilled over into stands, where an announced 7,795 fans made the most of 50-cent
hot dog night. Fans demolished 25,310 dogs — an average of 3.25 per patron.
Between bites, fans saw the ’Topes deliver one of their most complete performances of a difficult month. Jeff Hoffman pitched 5 ⅓ strong innings and delivered an RBI single to help Albuquerque shake off its recent doldrums. The Isotopes had won just once in their previous nine games.
“We needed that game,” manager Glenallen Hill said. “We didn’t hit well in Las Vegas and our defense has been uncharacteristically bad lately. It was nice to see a game like this where everything came together.”
Hoffman, coming off a stint with the parent Colorado Rockies, believed the game could be a spark.
“I’ve witnessed this team going on 12-, 14-game winning streaks the past couple years,” Hoffman said. “This group’s fully capable. Sometimes a nice, well-put-together game in all facets is all it takes to get you back on track.”
Hoffman did his part Wednesday, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts and escaping trouble with a pair of double plays. The Isotopes turned four double plays overall, three on hard-hit balls to third baseman Josh Fuentes.
Isotopes shortstop Daniel Castro also made a dazzling play, diving to stop a sharp onehopper by El Paso’s Allen Craig in shallow left field. Castro bounced to his feet and threw Craig out with a pinpoint throw.
“Fuentes was phenomenal, (second baseman Garrett) Hampson made a nice pickup to start a double play,” Hill said, “and Castro was Castro. He’s just very comfortable on any ball hit his way.”
The ’Topes grabbed a 2-0 lead on Mike Tauchman’s oppositefield homer to left in the bottom of the first, then broke things open by batting around in the fifth. Castro and Anthony Bemboom smacked back-to-back doubles to plate three runs, and Jordan Patterson and Hoffman added RBI singles in the frame.
Hoffman finally ended the rally when he was thrown out at home trying to score from second base on an infield hit by Hampson.
“I was hoping the first baseman might not be focused on me,” Hoffman said. “He might be thinking about the play at first and I could sneak in there. I’m a genius if it works, right? Guess I wasn’t a genius tonight.”
Hill just shook his head when asked about Hoffman’s baserunning exploits.
“He threw the ball great,” Hill said. “That’s his primary job. Anything he does with the bat is a bonus.”
Three relievers — Scott McGough, Jerry Vasto and DJ Johnson — nailed down the win, allowing just one hit over the final 3⅔ innings.
TAKING IT SLOW: El Paso sent a translator to the mound when Japanese relief pitcher Kazuhisa Makita entered the game in the third inning. It’s reasonable to assume he didn’t encourage Makita to come out firing.
The 33-year-old right-hander was all about deception. His funky windup and submarine delivery was followed by a baffling array of soft pitches ranging from a 59 MPH flutterball that plunked Albuquerque’s Drew Weeks — who didn’t seem to mind — to a blazing 83 MPH fastball. No power arm? No problem. The ’Topes did not get a ball out of the infield against Makita in 1⅓ scoreless innings.