Then and now, ’Topes are tough
Albuquerque gets two wins Saturday, one in a game started on June 3
Saturday’s ’80s Night promotion proved strangely appropriate at Isotopes Park.
In the stands it meant throwback clothing including headbands, glam wigs with 1980s rock music and movie clips playing between innings on the video board.
A different kind of time warp played out on the field.
Before starting Saturday’s scheduled game (a 7-4, seveninning win), the Isotopes and Fresno Grizzlies had to complete a suspended contest that began on June 3. Albuquerque held a 4-0 lead when rain stopped that game in the fourth inning. Forty-eight days later, the Isotopes finished off a 10-3 victory.
It made a for a weird box score. As one might expect, both teams’
rosters changed significantly between the game’s start and its conclusion. But for statistical purposes it was all one game that officially took place on June 3.
With that in mind …
■ Isotopes infielder Ryan McMahon played first base for the Colorado Rockies on June 3 and had a rough day, going 0-for-4. He posted much better numbers in the Isotopes’ June 3 box score, going 2-for-2 with a two-run double and a three-run homer. (Both hits actually occurred Saturday).
■ Fresno’s Myles Straw officially had hits for Double A Corpus Christi and the Triple A Grizzlies on June 3. (The latter was a two-run single Saturday.)
■ Game time temperature listed for the June 3 contest was 83 degrees. It was 101 for Saturday’s first pitch.
■ Strangest of all, Grizzlies pitcher Rogelio Armenteros started the game on June 3 and finished it Saturday. For the record, Armenteros threw 147 pitches (82 Saturday) and was credited with a complete game. He allowed 10 runs on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts.
“It’s kind of crazy to think about all that,” McMahon said. “(Infielder) Garrett Hampson had two hits in the suspended game, too, and played his first big league game today. Weird.”
Weird or not, the Isotopes gladly took Saturday’s sweep over a Fresno team that came in 57-41.
“Any time you hold that team under 10 runs you did something good,” McMahon said. “Beating them twice is even better.”
McMahon played a leading role in the victories, finishing with four hits (two home runs and a double included) and a walk in six plate appearances. He drove in eight runs and scored four.
“Mac is attacking the baseball again,” Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill said. “He’s not concerned about mechanics or getting distracted by things outside his control. He’s attacking the baseball.”
McMahon felt particularly good about his three-run shot that landed among the trees beyond the center-field fence in game one.
“I think most hitters really enjoy hitting them to center field,” he said. “I felt like I got that one.”
AGGIE UP: The Rockies and Isotopes made numerous roster moves Saturday, several involving infielders. Hampson was called up to make his big-league debut, requiring Colorado to designate Daniel Castro for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot.
Those moves left the ’Topes short on infielders and they brought up former New Mexico State shortstop L.J. Hatch to fill the void. Hatch, who played for the Aggies from 2016-17, was playing for Rookie League Grand Junction prior to Saturday’s promotion. Hatch hit .321 for NMSU as a senior with five homers and 36 RBIs. He did not appear in Saturday’s games.
REHAB UPDATE: Two Rockies pitchers worked rehab outings Saturday. Harrison Musgrave pitched two scoreless innings of relief in game one. Chad Bettis started game two and allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in four innings.