Isotopes explode for 10 runs in 10th

In a 10th inning for the record book, if not the history books, the visiting Isotopes struck for 10 runs in the extra frame en route to a 19-12 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas in the finale of a six-game series on Sunday.

Almost lost among the Isotopes’ 17 hits, six of those in that wild 10th inning, was Ryan Ritter’s two-run homer in the second inning — extending his Isotopes hitting streak, spanning two seasons, to 28 games. Ritter’s strike ties Mike Tauchman (whose 28-game strike began in 2017 and ended in 2018) for the longest in team history.

OK, back to the 10th. Chad Stevens got the uprising started with a leadoff two-run homer, with Adael Amador on second base as per rule. Five more hits (including a Charlie Condon home run), two walks, a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt and a Chihuahuas throwing error later, Albuquerque had its 10-run 10th and a 19-9 lead.

Three El Paso runs in the bottom of the 10th just prolonged a mercifully short 3-hour, 22-minute game.

The Isotopes’ 10th-inning mega-rally wouldn’t have happened if not for a single game-tying run in the top of the ninth. Vimael Machin doubled in Zac Veen, who had singled, to make the score 9-9.

Condon and Cole Carrigg combined for six hits and seven RBIs.

After Monday’s day off, Albuquerque begins a six-game home series against Oklahoma City, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tuesday’s game time at Isotopes Park is 6:35 p.m.