Topes Notes: Ryan Ritter brings record hit streak home to Isotopes Park

Tuesday

Who: vs. Oklahoma City Comets

When: Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.

Where: Rio Grand Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park

Radio: 610 AM/95.9 FM

Streaming: MiLB.tv

Probables: Comets LHP Cole Irvin (0-2, 1.65 ERA) vs. Isotopes TBD

A large “EP” in white paint is emblazoned on the stretch of green grass between home plate and the stands at Southwest University Park in El Paso — home of the Triple A El Paso Chihuahuas.

Isotopes shortstop Ryan Ritter had to walk near that logo on his way to bat. Since he walks behind — not in front of or through — the catcher and umpire, Ritter’s walk to the batter’s box last week in El Paso, as noted by longtime Albuquerque Isotopes broadcaster Josh Suchon, included stepping on only the green grass between the E and the P, turning into a dance of sorts.

Whatever he’s doing, it’s working. Ritter now has a 28-game Isotopes hitting streak — tied for a franchise record (Mike Tauchman had such a streak from Aug. 12, 2016 through April 9, 2017).

The streak began May 14 last season, about two weeks before his first major league call-up to the Colorado Rockies, extended some during a return to Triple-A, paused again for a trip back to the big leagues, and now is tied for the longest ever for the franchise.

A week before that June 6, 2025 big-league debut for the Rockies, the Journal asked Ritter if he had any weird superstitions as part of the red-hot streak that landed him that call-up. He said not really. Then listed about a half dozen.

“I have one where I’m driving here (to Isotopes Park), and I take a long turn and then get back into the right lane,” he explained. “It might be illegal, I don’t know. Just putting my left sock on (first). I have a toothpick that’s always in my back pocket. It’s just fun. It’s part of it. ...

“I guess I do the same thing every day. Everything’s just a routine at this point. I guess you could say superstition or routine — put it in the same category. ... Tunnel vision. Whatever works.”

Ritter, in doing whatever works, now has a streak that includes hitting .407 with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Tuesday, the 2022 fourth-round draft pick of the Rockies will get his shot at making the record his own in front of the Isotopes home crowd. That is, of course, as long as Ritter doesn’t erroneously stop on any chalk or field paint before the game.

Trivia time!

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QUESTION: The Isotopes are coming off a 5-1 series win over El Paso. Since the Pacific Coast League went to a six-game series format in 2021, the Isotopes have played in 113 six-game series. In how many of those have they won at least five games?

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ANSWER: See below...

Know the foe

The Isotopes host a six-game PCL series at Rio Grande Credit Union Field against the visiting Oklahoma City Comets, Tuesday through Sunday.

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Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 8-7 overall, t-5th place PCL

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Oklahoma City Comets, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-7 overall, t-5th place PCL

What’s up, Chuck?

Rockies power-hitting prospect Charlie Condon is tied for third in the PCL with four home runs. None have come in the thin air of Albuquerque.

What’s up, Chuck? Was it something we said?

Well, Condon, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia, has played only two of his 10 games this season in Albuquerque.

Three up, three down

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

Looking good:

The Isotopes’ 58 runs in last week's six-game series vs. El Paso (Albuquerque won five of the six games) was the most in a series for the club since scoring 62 from May 2-7, 2023, vs. Sugar Land.

Sunday’s 10-run 10th inning in a 19-12 win over the Chihuahuas was the highest-scoring extra inning in franchise history. Previous record was six runs in the 10th inning of a 14-11 road win at Las Vegas on May 19, 2005.

OF/SS Cole Carrigg leads the PCL in stolen bases with seven — three ahead of Round Rock’s Richie Martin and Sugar Land’s Taylor Trammell, who each have four.

Look away:

The Isotopes have not won a series vs. OKC since May 2024. Albuquerque went 1-2 at Oklahoma City to open the season in an abbreviated three-game set, and last season went 3-3, 3-3 and 2-4.

The Isotopes have scored 12 runs combined in innings 7 through 9 this season. That's 15 games, 43 innings (they did not hit in the bottom of the ninth of their two home wins earlier this month) and just 12 total runs. For context, they scored 10 in just the 10th inning on Sunday in El Paso.

The Isotopes have been caught stealing more than any team in the PCL — seven times. (Of course they also lead the league stolen bases with 26.)

Fast food

The first homestand of the season wasn’t something we want to Taco-bout, so let’s just get on to the standings for this season’s chile race competition.

2026 season standings:

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3 wins — Salsa Jar

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2 wins — Red Chile

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1 wins — Green Chile

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0 wins — Taco

Homestand highlights

Here are some of the promotional highlights for this week’s homestand at Isotopes Park (games start at 6:35 unless noted):

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Specialty food item for the homestand: Green chile patty melt (available at the Bullpen Cart by section 114)

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Wednesday: Jackie Robinson Day; pregame ceremony honoring educator and New Mexico’s first black congressman Lenton Malry with the 2026 Jackie Robinson “Making a Difference” award; all players wear No. 42 jerseys in honor of Robinson

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Thursday (12:05 p.m.): Day game.

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Friday: Orbit sock giveaway to the first 2,000 fans; STEM night with interactive exhibits on the concourse provided by New Mexico Tech; pregame autographs from 5:40 to 6 p.m. just inside third-base entrance.

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Saturday: Postgame fireworks.

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Sunday (1:35 p.m.): Meet Bluey and Bingo (Fans can line up behind section 123 for photograph time slots from 2:30 to 3 and then 3:30 to 4 p.m.)

Trivia answer

Eight. The Isotopes have won five or more games in a series eight times since that 2021 format shift to regular six-game series.

The last 5-1 series win for the Isotopes before this past week in El Paso was Sept. 12-17, 2023, also at El Paso.

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