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As the second month of the 2021 season nears its conclusion, the National League West remains one of the most competitive divisions at the top.
The Giants, Padres and Dodgers continue to battle for the lead, and the race could stay tight all year. Meanwhile, the D-backs and Rockies have endured some recent struggles and injury woes but each has talented young players who could help lead a turnaround over the next four months, especially as the teams get healthier.
However, each of these teams regardless of its position in the NL West has questions that need to be answered if it wants to stay at the top of the division or work its way up there. For some, these could lead to crucial decisions that will be made over the course of the summer and into the second half of the season.
Folks, I regret saying this, but it’s happening again.
This is not a new topic. In fact, it’s been mentioned over and over again in recent years on this page and on many other forums: the Rockies love keeping the fastball down. Bud Black, I’m convinced, prays to the almighty Low Fastball to deliver him and his hurlers weakly hit grounders every night before going to sleep. The Rockies love low fastballs so much, in fact, that
nobody throws them more often than them. Here’s where the Rockies rank in 4-seam-fastball height since 2017. Ready?
2017: 2.54 ft (26th)
7:05 p.m., 610 AM/95.9 FM, www.abqisotopes.com
THURSDAY: The Isotopes outhit an opponent for the first time this season, but El Paso scored five unanswered runs and beat Albuquerque 5-3 at Southwest University Field as the Isotopes opened a six-game series with the Chihuahuas. Thursday marked Albuquerque’s first road game in 620 days and the first of 24 scheduled meetings between the two clubs this season. Taylor Motter and Greg Bird, with back-to-back RBI doubles in the third against El Paso’s top pitching prospect, MacKenzie Gore, put the Isotopes in front 3-0. Box Score: El Paso 4, Albuquerque 3
Notes
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The Isotopes ranked last in Triple-A West in batting average (.198), at-bats (187), hits (37), doubles (three) and on-base percentage (.306).
It had been over six hundred days since the El Paso played baseball at Southwest University Park, and Thursday night s home opener did not disappoint, as the Chihuahuas overcame a 3-0 deficit and defeated the Albuquerque Isotopes, 5-3.
The home debut in front of 6,365 fans at Southwest University Park was headlined by pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who is the Padres top prospect and the top pitching prospect in baseball. Though it was a bit of a roller-coaster evening for Gore, he settled down in an impressive fashion.
Starter MacKenzie Gore struggled in the game early on, as the 22-year-old allowed three hits and a run at the top of the second. He was able to get out of the inning with Isotopes runners stranded on first and third.