Savage Improves to 3-0 As Albuquerque Wins Wild One

Will Savage was sitting around, minding his own business about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

That’s about the time things went bonkers at Isotopes Park.

First, Iowa Cubs infielder Luis Valbuena launched a two-run homer to even the score at 2 in the third inning. With his next pitch, ‘Topes starter Fernando Nieve hit Iowa’s Anthony Rizzo in the leg and was immediately ejected by plate umpire Mike Jarboe.

Albuquerque manager Lorenzo Bundy raced onto the field to argue, and the fans loudly booed as an angry Nieve left the field.

What was Savage, a right-handed relief pitcher, doing at the time?

“Definitely not getting prepared to pitch,” Savage said.

But pitch he did. Savage worked 4â…” strong innings and was rewarded with the win as the Isotopes rallied to knock off the I-Cubs 6-4.

Savage allowed just two hits, one walk and struck out two in a scoreless stretch that Bundy said benefited the team in more ways than one.

“When a starter leaves early, for whatever reason, it’s just a grind,” Bundy said. “Normally, you feel it for two or three days. Savage really picked us up tonight.”

Savage trotting in from the bullpen is becoming a welcome sight for the Isotopes. He’s 3-0 this season for a club with a 6-8 record.

Asked whether he’d lobby Bundy for more appearances, Savage laughed.

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “I’m just glad the offense seems to come around when I pitch.”

First baseman Jeff Baisley provided a big chunk of the Isotopes’ offense Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a go-ahead three-run homer.

Like Savage, Baisley wasn’t really expecting to make such a significant contribution when he came up with runners on the corners and one out in the sixth.

“I was just trying to get a pitch I could hit in the air,” Paisley said, “get a sacrifice fly. I did a little better I guess.”

All in all, it was a feel-good win for the ‘Topes, who got contributions from numerous sources.

Matt Angle, mired in a prolonged slump, belted an RBI triple in the ninth inning. Josh Fields got Albuquerque out of an eighth-inning jam, grabbing an infield bouncer in front of third base, then retreating and spinning to turn a slick 5-3 double play.

“Nice win for the Isotopes,” Bundy said.

Such seemed unlikely around 7:30 p.m., when Jarboe tossed Nieve, surprising just about everyone.

“(Jarboe) said it was intentional,” Bundy said of Nieve’s pitch hitting Rizzo. “I obviously didn’t agree with him.”

A less-than-fully warmed-up Savage then allowed an RBI double to the first Cubs batter he faced, Wellington Castillo. That gave Iowa a 3-2 lead, but the Cubs wouldn’t score again until the ninth.

In between, Savage and the Isotopes bullpen was outstanding.

“When a reliever has three wins this early, it usually means the team came from behind,” Bundy said. “I can’t remember how Savage got his other two, but he definitely earned this win.”
See BULLPEN on PAGE D4Bullpen Steps Up For ‘TopesSavage Improves to 3-0 As Albuquerque Wins Wild OneBullpen Steps Up For ‘Topesfrom PAGE D1

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— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal