RBI battle heats up for 2 Isotopes
But Albuquerque still comes up short at home to Tacoma
Anything you can do … Such is the head-to-head statistical battle Albuquerque Isotopes hitters Josh Fuentes and Mike Tauchman are waging this season. Both players added to their impressive numbers Tuesday, albeit in a 9-5 loss to visiting Tacoma, and the team RBI race remained too close to call.
Fuentes and Tauchman gave an announced crowd of 8,088 something to cheer about in the second inning. Tauchman led off with his sixth triple of the season and coasted home when Fuentes lined his 11th home run into the Albuquerque bullpen.
That sequence of events gave the ’Topes a 2-1 lead over visiting Tacoma and gave Fuentes a team-best 77 RBIs. Tauchman has 76.
“I’ve not heard any talk about it,” Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill said, “but those two guys are into everything. You can bet they know the RBI numbers. They’re both extreme competitors.”
The RBI race represents only a fraction of what Fuentes and Tauchman have accomplished at the plate. Fuentes is hitting .316 and leads the Isotopes in doubles (28) and triples (11). Tauchman is hitting .333 with 22 doubles and 19 homers — and has played in just 93 games with Albuquerque. Fuentes has played a teamleading 117 games.
Still, with 19 games remaining in the season the RBI crown is up for grabs.
“I think that’s a reflection of how consistent those guys have been,” Hill said. “All their numbers are good. RBIs may come down to the wire.”
Unfortunately for the ’Topes, Tuesday’s outcome was a reflection of the weaknesses that have plagued the team all season. Tacoma’s Daniel Vogelbach homered and drove in four runs as the Rainiers scored the final seven runs to break things open.
Vogelbach’s homer was the 100th hit by an opposing player at Isotopes Park this year. Fuentes’ home run was the 78th hit by Albuquerque hitters at their home stadium.
Tuesday’s loss dropped the ’Topes to a seasonworst 11 games under .500 and 13½ games behind PCL Pacific Southernleading El Paso. Offense has not been the problem. Albuquerque came into the game ranked second in team batting average (.289) and third in runs scored (671).
But the Isotopes ranked third from the bottom in team earned-run average (5.36) and in runs allowed (695).
Isotopes starter Jeff Hoffman took the brunt of things Tuesday, allowing all nine runs on 12 hits in five-plus innings. Hoffman took a 3-2 lead to the mound in the fifth but allowed five runs in that frame and two more in the sixth before being relieved.
SILVER STICK: Prior to Tuesday’s game, Isotopes general manager John Traub presented Jordan Patterson with a silver bat to commemorate his franchise record for career home runs. Patterson has hit 62 long balls in parts of three seasons with the ’Topes. He caught and overtook previous recordholder Jason Wood, who hit 59, during Albuquerque’s previous home stand.
The Isotopes also showed a lengthy video that included most, if not all, of Patterson’s Isotopes Park home runs.