Cardullo, a true utilitarian, sparks ’Topes
Albuquerque concludes a 7-game homestand tonight against Sacramento
Stephen Cardullo added a page to his résumé Saturday night by making his first start at second base.
Just another night at the office for the Albuquerque Isotopes’ top utility man.
Cardullo made the most of his playing opportunity with flawless defense and a productive night at the plate. He tripled, doubled and walked in the Isotopes’ 6-2 win over visiting Sacramento, driving in a run and scoring twice.
“I’m always happy to be in the lineup,” Cardullo said. “It doesn’t matter where (manager Glenallen) Hill puts me. I just try to find a way to help the team.”
Cardullo has played first base, left field and right field this season but was not needed at a middle infield spot until Saturday.
Albuquerque started the day with infielders Daniel Castro, Brendan Rodgers and Derrik Gibson on the disabled list. The Colorado Rockies optioned infielder Pat Valaika to Albuquerque on Saturday, but he had not been added to the roster at game time.
Hill had no qualms about putting Cardullo at second base.
“I know his skill set,” Hill said. “In spring training he takes balls at every position, and he was obviously well-prepared to play second.
I didn’t think twice about it.”
Cardullo easily handled all five ground balls hit his way, starting a double play on one of them. He couldn’t precisely recall his last appearance at second base, however.
“I know I played there in independent ball at some point,” he said. “I played every infield and outfield position, but it had been a while. I’m glad they hit me some balls. I know playing for a National League organization it’s always good to be versatile, but really I just like to play.”
Cardullo’s RBI triple to right-center field ignited a four-run Isotopes rally in the second inning Saturday night. He later scored on Elliot Soto’s fielder’s choice grounder, and Raimel Tapia belted a two-run homer to left field that gave Albuquerque a 5-1 lead.
“(Tapia) has hit a lot of balls hard to the opposite field lately,” Hill said, “but he never quite got one strong enough until tonight. He muscled that one up a little bit. Good to see.”
River Cats starter Tyler Herb promptly plunked Tapia on the first pitch of his next at-bat, drawing boos from the crowd and a disgusted stare from Tapia. Hill was not convinced that Herb’s pitch carried any intent.
“I thought he was just trying to come in hard because Tapia had taken him the other way twice,” Hill said. “It looked like a slider, anyway. If he’d hit him with a fastball, that might be something different.”
SINGLES ONLY: Sacramento’s Kelby Tomlinson had a single hit Saturday night. It was, you guessed it, a single.
The shortstop has 39 base hits for the River Cats this season, all of them singles. Tomlinson does have six extra-base hits in 53 games with the San Francisco Giants this season, but 83 percent of his major league hits are singles.
RARE SIGHT: Isotopes third baseman Josh Fuentes drew a seventh-inning walk Saturday — news because it was his first base on balls since July 16. The freeswinging Fuentes leads the Pacific Coast League with 498 at-bats. He’s walked 18 times.
STREAK OVER: Matt Holliday came into Saturday night’s game with hits in eight consecutive atbats — one short of Ryan McMahon’s Isotopes record. Holliday’s streak ended in the first inning when his long drive to left-center was caught at the fence. He finished 0-for-3.