Albuquerque Isotopes shortstop Wilson Valdez stole the show Sunday before a packed house in a 9-1 drubbing of the world champion Florida Marlins.
In an exhibition game that meant little to the Marlins, who start their regular season Tuesday, and much to the Isotopes, Valdez singled twice, stole four bases and scored in each of the first two innings for Albuquerque.
"That's my game," Valdez said. "When I get on base, I am going to steal. It doesn't matter if it's second or third base."
Valdez's basepath prowess drew ire from Marlins' starting pitcher Darren Oliver in the fourth. Oliver threw behind Valdez to lead off the inning.
"He said something to me, you know," Valdez said. "But I let it go and kept my concentration. Then I hit a double."
Isotopes manager Tracy Woodson said he didn't know of any kind of baseball code Valdez might have broken and didn't know why Oliver was upset.
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"Valdez was on his own," Woodson said. "He can make things happen at the top of the order. Oliver was a little upset up there. Valdez was not at fault, though."
Valdez, who finished 3-for-4, wasn't the only standout for the Isotopes, as the pitching staff shut down the Marlins' big league bats. Starter Kevin Olsen pitched out of a second-inning jam and gave up six hits, one earned run and struck out five in 3 and 1/3 innings. Olsen started seven games for the Isotopes last season going 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA. Pitchers Mike Flannery, Marty McCarty and Matt Blank shut out the Marlins for the remaining four. Right fielder Matt Padgett and first baseman Larry Sutton also had good games at the plate for Albuquerque. Padgett went 1-for-3 with a double and a two base error, while Sutton finished 2-for-3 with two singles. The game was canceled after seven innings due to rain.
Woodson said that even though this was only an exhibition game, it was vital to team chemistry.
"I think it gives our guys a lot of confidence and togetherness," Woodson said. "I like having teams that get along. We're going to be here five months and this is just the start of it."
The Isotopes won the Pacific Coast League Central Division title last season. They begin their regular season Thursday in an away game against the Memphis Redbirds. The Marlins begin defense of their World Series Championship at home Tuesday against the Montreal Expos.
Key players missing from last year's Marlins roster are Gold Glove winner Derrek Lee, perennial All-Star Ivan Rodriguez, 14-game winner Mark Redman and relievers Braden Looper and Ugueth Urbina. The Isotopes will have to cope with the loss of 2003 minor league All-Star Rob Stratton who led the Isotopes with 32 home runs and won the minor league home run derby.
Still, Woodson said he wasn't concerned with the loss of power.
"We'll be all right power-wise," he said. "I'm not worried about that. I see a lot of extra-base hits, maybe not as many home runs. You're not going to have anybody hitting like Stratton did last year."
The Isotopes home opener is at 7 p.m. on April 12 against the Nashville Sound.
