The Albuquerque Isotopes' 10-7 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday night may go down as the costliest win in team history.
In the span of four innings, three Isotopes were injured, suddenly leaving the club down to only seven healthy position players.
"I've been in this game a long time and we talked about there's not too many 'nevers' in baseball," manager Lorenzo Bundy said. "To have guys get hurt and have to come out of the game the way it happened tonight, to end up with a pitcher in right field ... it was a strange night."
Second baseman Justin Sellers was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the fourth inning, forcing him to leave the game.
Three batters later, Juan Castro fouled off the first pitch from Austin Bibens-Dirkx, only to suddenly double over in pain, clutching his left side. He had to leave the game as well.
In the seventh inning, J.D. Closser, who had moved from catcher to third base to replace Castro, stumbled while trying to field a grounder. The ball bounced up and struck Closser under his left eye, leaving him with a visible bruise and forcing him out.
At that point, Jerry Sands had to move from right field to third, and with no position players available on the bench, pitcher Tim Redding trotted out to right field.
“The big question is with J.D., if he’s available or not (to catch)," Bundy said. "I guess Jerry Sands would be my backup catcher."
Sellers' X-rays came back negative, Bundy said, so he is out for just a few days. There was no word on Closser, but Castro's prognosis was not good.
“Castro, that’s an oblique, so we’re anywhere from two weeks to six weeks," Bundy said. "That’s a tough thing, especially for a guy at his age. It’s going to be tough to come back anytime soon."
Bundy said the Isotopes hope to get another player, likely from the extended spring training program in Arizona, in time for Thursday's 11:05 a.m. game.
All the injuries, which came on the heels of regular third baseman Russ Mitchell (bruised left forearm) having been hit by a pitch Tuesday, overshadowed another big offensive night for the Isotopes (5-2).
“Obviously we’re happy about the victory," Bundy said. "Give credit to a truly team effort tonight. All the guys chipped in, found a way to get it done. We were able to win the series, the first of the year."
Trayvon Robinson crushed his second three-run homer in as many nights, while Trent Oeltjen cranked out two home runs while going 3-for-5 with four RBI. Closser was 3-for-3 with two runs scored before leaving the game.
“I got a bit of a confidence, got my stroke going," Oeltjen said. "The whole team, one through nine, is really swinging the bat well. It’s showed the last two nights."
Notes
- Reliever Ramon Troncoso remained with the Isotopes despite Tuesday's postgame announcement that he was headed back to the Dodgers. No explanation was given from Los Angeles for the abrupt reversal.
- The Isotopes did add a player to the roster in infielder Joe Becker, who arrived Wednesday from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Becker grounded into a fielder's choice in his first Triple-A at-bat after coming in to play second base in place of the injured Sellers in the fifth inning.
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