4/22/2081 to 4/23/2081
The Charlotte Panthers (4-13)
AT
The Denver Broncos (6-11)
Expected Pitching Matchups:
RH Amadeo Carrera (1-2, 5.30 ERA) VS. RH Kenny Pillsbury (1-2, 4.80 ERA)
RH Kenneth Olivera (1-2, 6.06 ERA) VS. RH Arden Hawthorn (0-2, 6.86 ERA)
Panthers Pound Pillsbury
4/23/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Denver "ace"
Kenny Pillsbury got lit up by the previously reeling Charlotte Panthers, surrendering 4 runs in the first inning, en route to a 6-1 loss. Pillsbury's final line was a very less than stellar: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R. Meanwhile, the Broncos' bats went silent, mustering just 5 hits, though
Asbel Fuentez was a lone bright spot, delivering 3 of the hits, 2 of which were triples, and driving in the only Denver run.
Bolling Blast Bails Out Broncos; Bakke Completes the Comeback
4/24/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
The struggling
Ellis Bolling hit a game-tying three run homer in the 9th inning, and
Mark Bakke added a sacrifice fly two batters later to complete the come from behind 10-9 victory for the Broncos.
After doing little at the plate in the first game against Charlotte, the Denver bats were quick to strike in yesterday's game, scoring 2 in the 1st and 2 in the 2nd to build a 4-1 lead after 2 innings. But then starter
Arden Hawthorn collapsed, giving up 4 runs in the third inning, and another 3 in the fourth. After 4 innings, the Panthers led 8-5. The two teams exchanged runs to give Charlotte a 9-6 lead heading into the 9th.
2B
Tomas Sato led of the 9th with a single, and went to third on a single by RF
Alexis Vazquez. That set the stage for 1B Bolling, who so far this season, has done very little. Bolling promptly blasted one into the bleachers to tie the game at 9.
Eric Fudge immediately followed with a triple, to put the winning run at third with still nobody out. Up stepped veteran DH Bakke, himself not having a very good season. Bakke was able to hit one deep enough to score Fudge to win the game.
Arden Hawthorn continued to get beaten around, surrendering 15 hits and 8 runs in only 5 1/3 innings.
Russell Thomas delivered 3 hits, 3 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases, while
Joseph Swayze had 2 hits, and 3 RBI.
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4/24/2081 to 4/26/2081
The Denver Broncos (7-12)
AT
The Atlanta Braves (4-15)
Expected Pitching Matchups:
LH Robert McNett (1-1, 4.73 ERA) VS. RH Thomas Sanchez (0-3, 7.41 ERA)
RH Christopher Kirk (2-2, 6.16 ERA) VS. RH Tony Testa (0-2, 4.95 ERA)
RH Tony Rivera (0-1, 6.10 ERA) VS. RH James Patrick (0-3, 4.43 ERA)
Another Back and Forth Victory
4/25/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
In what has become an all too familiar pattern, the Broncos grabbed an early lead, blew it, and then rallied to pull out the victory. After two innings, the Broncos had raced out to a 6-2 lead, and seemed like they might run away with yesterday's game against the hapless Braves. But then starter
Robert McNett coughed up three runs in the third inning, and after 5 innings, the score stood at 7-7. After 7 innings, the Braves had taken a 9-7 lead, but the Broncos managed to tie it in the 8th inning. In the top of the ninth, the Broncos grabbed what seemed like a safe 12-9 lead, but barely escaped with a 12-10 victory.
McNett was battered in 6 innings of work, giving up 11 hits and 7 runs. The Denver lineup exploded for 18 hits, and drew 6 walks in the game.
Asbel Fuentez and
Lee Chappel each had three hits, and Chappel drove in 2 runs.
Joseph Swayze continues to be red hot, delivering 2 hits, a HR, and 3 RBI.
Kirk Collapses in Atlanta Victory
4/26/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Denver starter
Christopher Kirk held the Atlanta lineup at bay for 8 innings, as the Broncos built a 4-1 lead. Then, in the ninth, Kirk fell apart, serving up a 2 run homer to
Raymond Stair, followed by a double and a walk. Reliever
Ramon Gomez came in and managed to get one out before giving up a single, and then a 2 run double to
Antoine Macias to lose the game, 5-4.
This has become a familiar pattern for Kirk, as he has gone deep into games multiple times this year, only to fall apart around the 8th or 9th inning. Having good games for Denver were
Asbel Fuentez, with 3 hits, and
Tomas Sato, who had 2 hits and a home run.
Bolling Breaks Out!
4/27/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Struggling
Ellis Bolling may have finally broken out of his slump, delivering 3 hits and 5 RBI (aided by an RBI triple and a 3 run HR) in Denver's 10-7 victory over Atlanta yesterday. Through three innings, the game was a tight 1-1 affair. In the fourth inning the Broncos broke it wide open, scoring 4 runs to take a 5-1 lead. But that didn't last long; the Braves inched to within a run with a 3 run 6th inning. The Broncos added two more runs to make it 7-4, and then Bolling seemingly put the game away for good with a 3 run homer in the ninth inning to give the Broncos a commanding 10-4 lead. Relief pitcher
Fred Lemire entered the 9th inning with a runner on base and promptly surrendered back to back home runs to make the game a much more shaky 10-7.
Ramon Gomez came in, however, and finished things off with no further damage.
Bolling was more animated than he's ever been after the game. "Man, it felt so great to have a game like that! I've been struggling and struggling, never seeming to get things going, and then Bam! A game like that! I feel great right now!" In addition to Bolling's superb game,
Russell Thomas had three hits, and
Asbel Fuentez,
Lee Chappel, and
Tomas Sato each had two hits, with Chappel also driving in 2 runs.