‘Topes First Baseman Back In Duke City After LA Stint

Scott Van Slyke figured it would take a little time to get back in rhythm after returning to the Albuquerque Isotopes.

It did.

One game.

	Today Memphis at Albuquerque, 7:05 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610)

On Friday, Van Slyke showed why he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers the past month. The 6-foot-5 power hitter went 2-for-5, including a two-run homer in the second, during the Isotopes’ 12-0 rout of Memphis.

Van Slyke raised his batting average to .328 this season as an Isotope. He also has nine homers.

Friday was Van Slyke’s second game back with Albuquerque after logging 31 at-bats in 17 games for the Dodgers. It didn’t go as well in LA.

The son of former major leaguer Andy Van Slyke hit just .194 with the Dodgers, but had a few big hits – including a pinch-hit three-run homer to win one game – and says he gained some much-needed experience.

“It was good for me. I had games where I was hitting balls hard, even though I wasn’t playing every day,” said the 24-year-old Missouri native.

“I’m confident I can play up there, that I can get the job done there. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning a couple of things and working hard at first base.”

On Friday, Van Slyke started at first base for the second straight night and for the eighth time this season. That appears to be his future position with the Dodgers.

He also has started 19 games for the Isotopes in right field and four in left field.

In addition to his offensive display Friday, Van Slyke looked sharp in the field all evening. With a Memphis runner on first in the top of the second, Van Slyke made a nifty scoop of a grounder, fired to shortstop Luis Cruz to gun down the lead runner, then raced back to first to get the relay from Cruz and complete the double play.

He also made a pair of nice plays on back-to-back grounders in the sixth.

Albuquerque manager Lorenzo Bundy said the ‘Topes will likely use Van Slyke at first base most of the time, but he’ll still probably play outfield “a couple times a week.”

Bundy says he’s confident Van Slyke will be back to the big leagues before season’s end, but he still has work to do.

“Scotty didn’t get a chance to play consistently (in LA),” he said. “I think Scotty has to realize what adjustments he needs to make here that will help him up there. And that comes from the player. Scotty’s going to play every day now.

“But he’s a leg-kick guy (lifts his leg before swinging). When leg-kick guys don’t play every day, it’s a big timing factor. … Right now, it’s just a matter of getting back in the flow.”

On Thursday, in his first game back with the ‘Topes, Van Slyke went 0-for-4. He said it will take him a little time to adjust to playing every day again, and getting back into a rhythm after spending so much time on the bench with LA.

“Over the course of playing six or seven days during the week, you can get away with being a little more patient, waiting for your pitch,” he said. “But playing once or twice a week, you’ve got to be ready to hit the first pitch.

“When you’re not playing every day, you’ve got to spend a lot more time in the (batting) cage to keep your swing in check. Not playing every day makes it hard to feel where your bat head is, where your feet are and where your hands are. Playing every day, you kind of get into a rhythm, and you’re able to repeat your mechanics when in the box.”