Patterson’s record homer not enough
Baby Cakes complete four-game sweep over ’Topes in rousing fashion
If not for Jordan Patterson the Albuquerque Isotopes’ home series against New Orleans would have been entirely forgettable.
The Baby Cakes put one on the ’Topes on Tuesday afternoon, racking up 21 hits in a 15-6 shellacking. The win gave New Orleans a sweep of the four-game set by a combined score of 47-21.
Fortunately for fans attending the final two games of the series, there was Patterson.
The Isotopes outfielder/first baseman launched home runs in each of those contests to take sole possession of the franchise record for career long balls. Patterson hit his 60th on Monday night to tie Jason Wood’s team standard. Tuesday’s solo shot to deep right-center put Patterson alone atop the home run list with 61.
“To have your name on a record like that is pretty cool,” Patterson said. “It’s an honor for sure. I just wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there.”
Patterson, 26, spent a long time on the doorstep. He smacked his 19th home run of
the season — No. 59 as an Isotope — on July 1. The next 35 days included a brief call-up by the Colorado Rockies and 77 atbats with the Isotopes but no home runs.
It wasn’t entirely frustrating as Patterson continued to hit well during the span. Still …
“It was one of the longest (home run) droughts of my career,” Patterson said. “You do start to wonder after a while.”
Ironically, Wood was back in Albuquerque for part of Patterson’s dry spell. Currently the manager of Round Rock, Wood was aware that Patterson was within one homer of his team record when the Express played a threegame series at Isotopes Park last week.
“Patterson’s a quality hitter,” Wood said, “and he’s going to break the record. I just don’t want it happening on my watch.”
Wood got his wish. Patterson instead tied the record with a line-drive shot to right field in the fourth inning Monday night. His teammates, in fine baseball fashion, pretended not to notice and gave Patterson the silent treatment when he reached the dugout.
“I expected it, bunch of clowns,” Patterson said. “I’m pretty sure (manager Glenallen) Hill put them up to it.” Hill pleaded guilty. “Absolutely,” he said. “It was a rough homestand and we’ve been going through a rough patch as a team. That was a chance for the guys to relax and have a little joy.”
The home run drought behind him, Patterson officially put Wood in the rearview mirror with his blast Tuesday. Wood amassed his 60 home runs in 597 games over parts of five seasons. Patterson needed 345 games over parts of three seasons to surpass him.
Unfortunately for the Isotopes, Patterson’s landmark homers came in losing efforts. Albuquerque’s pitching and defense struggled mightily Tuesday as the Baby Cakes grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
Patterson’s solo homer and a third-inning grand slam by Mike Tauchman briefly tied the score at 5-5. But New Orleans proceeded to outscore the ’Topes 10-1 over the next four innings to turn the game into a blowout.