Five Isotopes Recalled to Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled catcher Drew Butera, right-handed pitcher Stephen Fife, shortstop Dee Gordon, right-handed pitcher Peter Moylan and first baseman/outfielder Scott Van Slyke from Triple-A Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Isotopes activated catchers Damaso Espino and Stephen Cilladi, and right-handed pitcher Luis Vasquez from the disabled list today. Their active roster now stands at 23.

Right-handed pitcher Luis Vasquez was placed on the disabled list retroactive to August 6 with right bicep tendinitis. Vasquez joined the Isotopes on July 11 from Double-A Chattanooga. He boasts a 1.69 ERA allowing two earned runs and striking out 12 in 10.2 innings over seven appearances with Albuquerque. The Dominican native made his Triple-A debut in 2012 with the Isotopes.

Espino was originally placed on the disabled list on August 18 with a right calf strain. Espino, 30, has played 17 games for Albuquerque, starting 16 games at catcher and tossing out seven of 21 potential base stealers (33%). The backstop is hitting .321 (18-for-56) with five doubles and four RBI since joining the Isotopes on June 23. Cilladi started one game behind the plate for the Isotopes after coming off of the DL on July 11 and was placed on the disabled list on July 15. He has spent the entire 2013 campaign with Albuquerque.

Butera, who was acquired by the Dodgers on July 31 from Minnesota, appeared in 16 games with Albuquerque. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has a .182 career batting average with five home runs and 41 RBI in 186 career big league games with the Twins from 2010-13.

Fife has posted a 4-3 record with a 2.47 ERA (14 ER/51.0 IP) in nine starts in two stints with Los Angeles, allowing two runs or less in six of those outings. Overall, the right-hander is 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA (25 ER/37.1 IP) in 10 games (eight starts) for Albuquerque.

Gordon has appeared in 25 games in two stints for the Dodgers, batting .208 (16-for-77) with a homer, one triple, six RBI and six stolen bases. In 92 games at Triple-A, the left-handed hitter is batting .297 (111-for-374) with a Pacific Coast League-leading 49 stolen bases, 17 more than any other base stealer.

Moylan, who has pitched in 16 games for the Dodgers this season, will be appearing in his second stint with the club after posting a 1-0 record with a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP). The right-hander spent the majority of the season with Albuquerque, where he went 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA (14 ER/46.0 IP) and tossed scoreless relief in 28 of his 38 appearances.

Van Slyke has appeared in 38 games in four stints with Los Angeles this season, making starts in left field (18), right field (8) and first base (2), while hitting .252 (26-for-103) with six homers and 16 RBI. Of Van Slyke's 26 hits this season, 13 have gone for extra bases (seven doubles, six home runs). In 61 games at Albuquerque this season, Van Slyke had a .348 batting average (71-for-204) with 12 homers and 48 RBI.

Game three of the four-game series against New Orleans will be Sunday night. Jonathan Sanchez starts for Albuquerque. Brian Flynn gets the ball for New Orleans. First pitch is at 5 pm MT and can be heard on 610 "The Sports Animal" with Josh Suchon on the call.