Comeback Win for a Comeback Team

A big win for the Albuquerque Isotopes.

The fictional Springfield Isotopes from the Simpsons never made the move to Albuquerque thanks to Homer’s efforts, but the real Isotopes are alive and thriving there. You can even take a picture at Isotopes Park with a life-size Homer, Marge, Bart or Lisa, all located around the stadium’s concourse. 

Marge Simpson waits for you to join her for a photo op.
A Home-like hand encourages an Isotopes batter to bring in the winning run.

A few years after the beloved Dukes were moved to Oregon, Albuquerque became the new home of Calgary Cannons. “Isotopes” was the most popular entry in a poll to find a new name for the team. The name is a natural tie-in with the nuclear technology industry in and around Albuquerque.

The Isotopes play on the same field, officially Rio Grande Credit Union Field, that the Dukes used, but the stadium itself has been rebuilt with a multitude of upgrades and fan-friendly features. The center field wall has a big recessed cutout with a grassy hill that pushes the warning track inward. The bullpens are stretched end to end from right field to the centerfield and behind them is a large terraced picnic area. Behind the left field wall is high terraced lawn with a walkway that is part of the full-circle concourse around the field. A play area behind the batter’s eye is closed temporarily.

Picnic area, bullpens and the outfield hill under dramatic skies at Isotopes Park.

New Mexico’s famous green chile is featured in a number of food options at the concession stands, with wavy fries, bratwurst and foot-long hot dogs to name a few. You can even buy green chile merchandise in the souvenir shop, including replica jerseys and caps worn by the team when they play as the Albuquerque Green Chile Cheeseburgers.

Green chile and cheese on wavy fries.

The game took some lopsided turns. There was no score going into the 6th inning, when Ty Kelly led off with a single for the visiting Tacoma Rainiers. That was followed by two walks to load the bases and a pitching change. Another walk made it 1-0, a fielder’s choice sent in another run and loaded the bases again. One more walk made it 3-0. Still nobody out with the bases loaded, the Isotopes called in a third pitcher, who started things off with one more walk to make it 4-0. Finally, a flyout and a strikeout brought up Ty Kelly again, who led off with the inning’s only hit. His pop fly ended the inning for the Rainiers. 

The Isotopes got 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th and tied it up in the 8th at 4-4 with a homer by the catcher, Jose Briceño. In the bottom of the 9th, Briceño flied out with the bases loaded and one out. Wynton Bernard, pinch-running for Conner Joe, beat the throw to home plate to score and end the game.

It might have been a higher scoring game, but both teams struggled with runners in scoring position. Between them, the teams left 26 runners on base, 14 for Tacoma and 12 for Albuquerque.

The exciting come-from-behind win brought the large crowd of 7,009 Albuquerque fans to there feet and pumped them up for the Star Wars fireworks that went off within minutes after the end of the game.

Final: Albuquerque Isotopes 5, Tacoma Rainiers 4.

Flags were lowered and a moment of silence preceded the game
out of respect for the five victims of a fatal hot air balloon accident earlier in the day.