decent community

NEW BEDFORD — It’s not too often that a player wants to hit less long balls than he did the year before, but that’s exactly what Tom Jachimczyk wants to do this season.

“I want to hit .800 with 10 bombs. That’s my goal,” said Yim, who hit 20 homers in 2007 and 15 last season. “I want my average to climb 200 points. I’m not going to try to swing for the fences when we don’t have a fence. I think the only time I’m gonna try to hit long balls is when we’re at Cushman.”

Yim’s dong numbers may be down, but he’s close to his goal of hitting .800. He currently sits at .722 after a 2-for-5 game last Thursday. What may be alarming, though, is he has only four RBIs in five games.

“Not too many people are getting on base ahead of me,” Yim said, challenging the 1-2 hitters in the lineup. “I’m leading off a lot of innings or coming up second. I’m hitting doubles and singles, which isn’t necessarily going to score a guy from first.”

Chris Desmarais and Eric McAndrew, the two guys who have spent the most time hitting 1-2 this season, are carrying low on-base percentages so far, .238 and .407, respectively.

Coach Jon Darling said recently that it may be time to switch things up at the top.

“It’s a revolving door,” Darling said of the top-2 spots in the order. “I’m going to continue cycling guys in and out of those spots until someone hits well enough to stay there.”

TAKING THE BITE OUT OF THE BULLDOGS

The Rose Alley Isotopes won both games against their hated rivals, the Bulldogs, last week by a combined score of 17-5. The Bulldogs have eliminated the Topes in the playoffs the past three years, twice in the World Series.

“It’s good for morale. Any time you win a game it’s a good thing but beating the Bulldogs feels a little better,” Darling said.

The Topes have 5-run innings in both Bulldogs games, both highlighted by extra-base hits. Pitcher Matt Biltcliffe had a two-run, two-out double in Tuesday’s 10-2 win and Dave Gagliardihad a towering RBI triple that would have been a home run if there was a fence in Thursday’s 7-3 victory.

QUICK HITS

Former coach and budget expert Mike Rochacontinues to carry a hot bat. His .500 batting average joins Yim as the only Topes hitting .500 or above. … Darling is the only Tope to hit safely in all six games this season … Darling also became the first Isotope to “go down by way of the K” when he looked at Strike 3 on Thursday. He will bring a 30-pack to Tuesday’s game as a penalty … Plumber Guy also was hit with a beer penalty last week, popping out to the catcher on Tuesday. To his credit, he brought an 18-pack instead of the required 12-pack to Thursday’s game. … Gagliardi missed Wednesday’s game with blue-collar stuff at his newly purchased home. It was the first game he has missed in the four years of the Modern Topes era. Plumber played left-center field in his absence. … Kurt Homer showed signs of busting out of his year-plus-long slump last week with a 6-for-11 performance at the plate despite a bad right shoulder … Outfielder Patrick Long also had a solid week, carrying a .714 on-base percentage against the Bulldogs and Wrecking Crew. … Shortstop Chris Pinaulthit the Topes first homer of the season Tuesday. The Topes will miss him as he is headed to Europe for a month. Yim will man shortstop in his absence. … The Topes are 2-0 this season when playing with only three outfielders.

LOOKING AHEAD

Monday’s game marks the biggest game of the entire league so far this season as the Isotopes (6-0) travel to Livesey Park in Fairhaven for a 6 p.m. battle with first-place KMP (7-0). Tuesday, the Topes return to Cushman Park to host the Misfits, who fell to the Topes earlier in the season 5-1.