7/13/2081 to 7/15/2081
The Denver Broncos (49-41)
AT
The Grand Rapids Tigers (45-45)
Pitching Matchups:
RH Larry Waltz (0-2, 4.37 ERA) VS. RH John Marcil (3-5, 4.91 ERA)
RH Kenny Pillsbury (8-7, 4.47 ERA) VS. RH Aaron Williams (7-8, 3.64 ERA)
RH Christopher Kirk (12-6, 4.69 ERA) VS. RH Dennis Kenzo (13-5, 3.25 ERA)
The red hot Broncos lineup jumped on the Tigers in game one of this series, scoring 4 runs in the first inning, and didn't let up the rest of the game.
Joseph Swayze, who has been absolutely on fire, led of the 2nd inning with a home run, and then led off the 4th inning with a home run. The Broncos tacked on an additional two runs in the 4th, and led 8-0. They would add a run in the 8th and 2 in the ninth,
cruising to an 11-0 victory.
Larry Waltz was brilliant. He pitched a complete game 4-hitter, with 7 strikeouts.
Swayze finished with 3 hits, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored.
Asbel Fuentez had 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2 BB, and 2 runs scored.
In the 8th inning,
Russell Thomas extended his hitting streak to 31 games.
******
Thomas Named Player of the Week
7/14/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Today, Denver centerfielder Russell Thomas was named the AL Player of the Week. Thomas, in the midst of a 31 game hitting streak, was 18 for 30 during the past week, with a double, two triples, and two home runs. He has driven in 15 runs, and scored 7. He has also added 5 walks.
Thomas had this to say about the award. "You know, early in the year, I really wasn't doing much. I was beating myself up because I felt like I was disappointing everyone. I signed as a free agent here this offseason, and I imagine all the fans were trying to figure out why, after my poor start. Well, this is why. I know I'm a great hitter. What I'm doing now, this is the real me. But you know, there's a couple of other guys right here in this clubhouse who could have gotten this award. Look at Joe [Swayze]. That guy has just been crushing the ball. It seems like he's been averaging two homers a game!"
******
The second game of the series started off as a pitcher's duel, and remained that way until the 4th inning. The Broncos struck for 4 runs, one of which came on a run scoring single by recent call up, outfielder
Robert Perkins. It was Perkins' first major league hit.
"Wow! My first game up, my first career hit, and I drive in a run! I can't believe it," Perkins gushed after the game.
The Broncos added another run in the 8th inning to give them a 5-0 lead.
Kenny Pillsbury was absolutely dominating, but tired in the 9th inning and lost the shutout. One run was all the Tigers would get, however, and
the Broncos prevailed, 5-1. Pillsbury finished with 8 2/3 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts.
Eric Fudge collected 2 hits and 2 RBI, while
Alexis Vazquez had 2 hits and 2 runs scored.
Russell Thomas went 0 for 5 and his hitting streak was snapped at 31 games.
******
The third game of the series was the
Joseph Swayze show.
The Broncos trailed 1-0 in the second inning when
Joseph Swayze ripped a two run double to give them a 2-1 lead. After the Tigers tied the game in the 5th inning, Swayze blasted a 2 out, solo homer in the 6th inning to retake the lead for Denver. The Tigers would once again tie the game, with a run in the bottom of the 6th. That would set the stage once more for Swayze, though in less dramatic a fashion.
Swayze led off the ninth inning with a single, and
Patrick Chason pinch ran for him.
Booker Romero sacrificed Chason to second.
Asbel Fuentez followed with a run scoring single to give the Broncos the lead.
Ellis Bolling added a run scoring single of his own to provide insurance.
Christopher Kirk, who had shut down the Tigers for the most part, gave way to
Ramon Gomez with one out in the 9th. Gomez would finish off
the 5-3 victory.
Swayze had a great game, finishing with 4 hits and 3 RBI.