6/6/2081 to 6/8/2081
The Denver Broncos (28-30)
AT
The Grand Rapids Tigers (29-29)
Pitching Matchups:
RH Kenny Pillsbury (4-7, 4.79 ERA) VS. RH John Marcil (2-2, 3.72 ERA)
RH Arden Hawthorn (2-4, 7.63 ERA) VS. RH Emanuel Martorell (2-1, 4.63 ERA)
RH Tony Rivera (3-4, 6.10 ERA) VS. RH Aaron Williams (5-6, 3.69 ERA)
This series started well, as a two run double from
Booker Romero and a three run homer from
Lee Chappel highlighted a six run 2nd inning in the first game. The scoring didn't stop, as the Broncos added four runs in the fifth inning and another run in the 8th on their way to an 11-2 victory.
Kenny Pillsbury wasn't as efficient as he was in his previous start; he wound up walking a career high 7 batters. Still, he managed to get the job done.
Tomas Sato had 4 hits and scored 3 runs, while
Mark Bakke and
Alexis Vazquez each had three hits.
That would be the highlight of the series; it was downhill from there.
******
The second game began well.
Lee Chappel's two run homer in the first inning keyed a 4 run outburst. The lead didn't even last an inning. Grand Rapids RF
Lamont Ferro hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first, and the score was evened at four. The Broncos took a 5-4 lead in the second inning, but that didn't last long, either.
Arden Hawthorn collapsed, and gave up seven runs in the 4th inning. Denver made it 11-6 with a run in the fifth inning, but reliever
Roman Torre graciously coughed up 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth.
The Broncos then began a stunning rally. Trailing 13-6, they scored two in the 7th inning, two more in the 8th inning, and then put together a four run 9th inning to actually take a 14-13 lead.
Ramon Gomez promptly blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth, and then gave up a run in the tenth inning to make the final score
15-14 in favor of the Tigers.
Lee Chappel finished with 3 hits and 5 RBI, while
Russell Thomas and
Tomas Sato each had 3 hits. Hawthorn finished with a 12 hits allowed, five walks, and 11 runs in only 4 innings.
For Grand Rapids, Ferro finished with 4 hits and a whopping seven runs batted in.
Javier Longoria, Jr. had 5 hits for the Tigers.
******
If ever there were a sign of the lack of confidence in Denver's bullpen, the third game of this series would be it. Trailing 2-0 after two innings,
Lee Chappel single-handedly brought the team back into the game. Chappel delivered a run-scoring double in the 6th inning, and hit a solo homer in the 8th to tie the game up.
Booker Romero seemingly made Chappel's efforts worthwhile, when he hit a run-scoring double in the 9th inning to briefly give the Broncos a 3-2 lead.
In the ninth, however,
Ramon Gomez,
Leo Salguero, and.....
Robert McNett, set to start the following game, combined to blow the lead and
the Broncos lost 4-3. McNett was brought in to face a left-handed hitter with runners on and the game already tied up. Needless to say, he gave up the hit that scored the winning run.
The only bright spots in this game belonged to
Tony Rivera, who pitched 7 innings and allowed just 2 runs, and Lee Chappel, who had 4 hits (2 doubles and 1 homer), and drove in two runs.