Albuquerque baseball fans witnessed a rare sight Thursday: Rain.

The wet stuff started falling around 8:15 p.m. at Isotopes Park. One hour later the Isotopes’ game against New Orleans was suspended because of rain and lightning in the area.

As a result, two games are on tap today. The continuation of Thursday’s game will be resumed at 5 p.m. with the Zephyrs leading 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning. New Orleans will have runners on first and second with no outs. It will be completed as a nine-inning game.

	Today New Orleans at Albuquerque 5 p.m. (completion of suspended game/regular game) Radio: KNML-AM (610)

Today’s regularly scheduled game will follow 30 minutes after the suspended game concludes. Game 2 will be a scheduled seven-inning contest.

Fans with tickets to today’s game can attend both for no extra charge. Those who had tickets to Thursday’s game can claim a rain check and exchange them for a future Isotopes home game.

Thursday’s sudden downpour seemed to catch everyone by surprise.

Fans cheered when the first raindrops fell, giving an indication how long it had been since Albuquerque had experienced a shower. Even when the rain intensified and umpires called for the infield tarp, many fans clapped.

Unfortunately for the ‘Topes, the rain seemed to befuddle first baseman Scott Van Slyke before the delay.

With New Orleans runners on first and third with no outs in the fifth, Chris Coghlan bounced a one-hopper directly at Van Slyke.

He inexplicably hesitated, then threw to third while Kevin Mattison raced home, failing to record an out.

The Z’s also got an unearned run thanks to a Van Slyke error in the first inning. It was Van Slyke’s first game back after missing two because of the birth of his first son.

Thursday was the first time an Isotopes home game was suspended this season. The last home suspension came Aug. 30, 2010, against Iowa.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal