6/15/2081 to 6/17/2081
The Denver Broncos (32-35)
AT
The Tucson Diamondbacks (39-28)
Pitching Matchups:
RH Christopher Kirk (7-5, 5.47 ERA) VS. RH Peter Boughner (10-1, 2.56 ERA)
RH Kenny Pillsbury (6-7, 4.55 ERA) VS. RH Cleveland Lauria (9-5, 4.28 ERA)
RH Valentine McGurk (0-0, 0.00 ERA) VS. RH Scott Council (5-1, 3.33 ERA)
Aside from the third game, this series could be dubbed the "heartbreak series."
In the first game,
Christopher Kirk tossed six shutout innings, and the Broncos led 2-0 heading into the seventh inning. The Diamondbacks picked up a run, but Denver still had the lead. Then the eighth inning happened. In the blink of an eye, the game was tied and
Patrick Chason committed a throwing error that allowed the go-ahead run to be scored. And that was the final:
3-2, Diamondbacks.
Kirk finished with 8 IP, 3 R, and 5 K's.
Lee Chappel and
Mark Bakke each provided 2 hits in the loss.
******
Asbel Fuentez led off the second game with a home run. In the 4th, Tucson's
Israel Kutz hit a solo homer to tie the game. The Broncos retook the lead when Fuentez drove in
Patrick Chason in the 7th. With the score 2-1, Broncos, in the ninth, however, Kutz stepped to the plate and delivered his 4th hit and second home run of the game to tie the game at 2.
Kenny Pillsbury, who had dominated Tucson's lineup aside from Kutz, kept right on trucking, and eventually left in the 12th inning with the game still tied.
James Virgen would give up the losing run in the 13th inning in another
3-2 defeat.
Pillsbury finished with 11 1/3 innings pitched, 2 runs allowed, and 10 strikeouts. Fuentez had 2 hits and 2 RBI in the loss.
******
Valentine McGurk unexpectedly salvaged the final game of the series, as he pitched 7 innings and allowed just 3 runs, though he walked five batters. He was helped by early run support, as the Broncos scored 3 runs in the first, 2 from a
Mark Bakke double.
Tomas Sato added a 2 run homer in the fifth inning, and
Alexis Vazquez hit one in the seventh, and the
Broncos ultimately prevailed 6-4.