Topes Notes: Pair of World Series champs playing first-place Isotopes in Albuquerque this week

Know the foe

The Isotopes return home for a six-game Pacific Coast League series at Rio Grande Credit Union Field from Tuesday through Sunday.

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Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 23-16 overall, 1st place PCL

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Oklahoma City Comets, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, 20-18 overall, 3rd place PCL

Three up, three down

Some things that have been looking good lately for the 'Topes, some not so good.

Looking good:

The Isotopes’ plus-40 run differential is tops in the PCL (next closest is second place Sacramento at plus-19).

The Isotopes’ winning the road series the past week at Sugar Land, 5-1, was Albuquerque's first-ever series win on the road against the Space Cowboys (11 total series). It was also just the second series win home or road against Sugar Land.

Seven Isotopes players have active on-base streaks of at least 17 games, including IF Chad Stevens with a 32-game streak.

Look away:

NOTE: It's admittedly a little nit-picky to find three things the Isotopes are struggling with the past few weeks. They are far from perfect, but first place is first place. Nonetheless, here are the three "downs" for the week...

It's not how your start. Or how you finish, apparently. While the Isotopes are outscoring opponents by 40 this season, they are being outscored in the first inning 27-22 (minus-5) and 20-13 (minus-7) in the ninth inning. The 'Topes are plus-52 in innings 2-8.

The Isotopes' 8.76 ERA in losses is the second worst ERA in losses in the PCL. Naturally, all teams have worse ERA's in losses than in wins, but for the Topes, the difference is big — 8.76 in the 16 losses and 3.39 in the 23 wins.

OK, Chuck. It's mid-May and you've still yet to leave the yard in the thin air of Albuquerque. 1B/OF Charlie Condon, is a home-run hitting Rockies prospect who entered the season as a guy likely to make it up to Denver sometime in the summer. So far, he's hitting .242 with four home runs (all in road games) and 17 RBIs in 120 at bats.

Fast food

Time to taco-bout an epic comeback in the standings. Here's a look in at this season's chile race standings.

2026 Season Standings (17 races):

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9 wins — Salsa Jar

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3 wins — Red Chile

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3 wins — Green Chile

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2 wins — Taco

Homestand highlights

Here's what the Topes are cooking up for this six-game homestand in terms of promotions, food and giveaways (start times vary, scheduled first pitch in parenthesis):

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Specialty food item of homestand: Teriyaki Chicken Skewer Bowl (available at the Bullpen Cart by section 109); Ballpark Sushi Dog (available at the Noodle Cart by section 119); Pork & Vegetable Egg Roll in a Mediterranean Bowl (available at Batters up by section 108)

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Wednesday (first pitch 6:05 p.m.): Asian American Pacific Islander Night; Ka La Kapu Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance and Bushido Kenkyukai Drummers performances pre and during game.

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Thursday (first pitch 11:05 a.m.): Day baseball!

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Friday (first pitch 6:35 p.m.): Fireworks postgame; Little League night (parade pregame); pregame autographs from select Isotopes on third base side concourse (5:40–6 p.m.)

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Saturday (first pitch 6:35 p.m.): Fireworks postgame; Little League night (parade pregame); Green Chile Cheeseburgers Night

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Sunday (first pitch 1:35 p.m.): Day baseball; Military & Veterans Appreciation Day; two model submarines on display outside McKernan Hall; pre-game check presentation to City of Albuquerque

Trivia answer

OKC settled in on the Comets as their team nickname last year in honor of the "Commerce Comet," the nickname given to Oklahoma baseball legend Mickey Mantle, who grew up in nearby Commerce, Oklahoma.

The team plays at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located on Mickey Mantle Drive, and there is a large Mickey Mantle statue outside the stadium.

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.