8/16/2081 to 8/18/2081
The Denver Broncos (68-53)
AT
The Miami Dolphins (78-43)
Pitching Matchups:
RH Kenny Pillsbury (12-9, 4.42 ERA) VS. RH Mark Prior (10-5, 3.72 ERA)
RH Christopher Kirk (16-7, 4.58 ERA) VS. RH Jose Caceres (10-11, 3.47 ERA)
LH Robert McNett (15-6, 4.21 ERA) VS. RH Joseph Brashears (8-3, 2.71 ERA)
When facing a team as strong as the Dolphins, both your hitting and your pitching need to be at the top their game.
Kenny Pillsbury was definitely at the top of his game in the series opener against Miami.
The Broncos drew first blood with a run in the first inning. They also caught a break when Miami starter
Mark Prior left with an injury. In the fifth inning,
Michael Grace ripped a two run homer to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Broncos padded the lead with a 3 run eighth inning, but with the way Pillsbury pitched, it really wasn't necessary. Pillsbury finished with a complete game shutout- 6 hits allowed and 8 strikeouts- and
the Broncos won easily, 6-0.
Grace,
Asbel Fuentez,
Ellis Bolling, and
Booker Romero all contributed with two hits apiece.
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Denver got the scoring started in the second game of the series with a two run 4th inning. With two outs and a runner aboard,
Michael Grace hit a run scoring double, and
Booker Romero followed with a triple to score Grace. Miami got on the board with a solo homer in the fifth inning from 3B
Thomas Fuentes, Jr., and tied the game up in the 6th inning.
The Broncos got back on top in the 7th inning, but in the bottom of the 7th, Miami's
Daniel Armas hit his first major league homer, a two run shot to give the Dolphins the lead. Miami hung on to that lead, and
prevailed 4-3 over the Broncos.
Christopher Kirk pitched 8 innings with 4 runs allowed.
Tomas Sato had 2 hits for Denver.
Asbel Fuentez had one hit and two walks; his hit was a two out triple in the ninth inning, but he could not be driven in.
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Pillsbury Honored As Player Of The Week
8/18/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Denver starting pitcher Kenny Pillsbury was named the AL Player of the Week for his efforts in the last seven days. Pillsbury made two starts, and won both of them, including a complete game shutout over Miami. He posted a 1.02 ERA in the starts, and struck out 17 batters in 17 2/3 innings.
Pillsbury said that he "was just happy to be able to contribute in the heat of a playoff race" and that his arm was "feeling really good right now." Denver pitching coach Ervin Wright said that early in the year Pillsbury was pressing a little bit while the team struggled and that right now he's "really loose and relaxed out there on the mound."
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The Broncos concluded their series with Dolphins by getting shut down by Miami's
Joseph Brashears. Brashears, a master of pitching to contact, failed to strike out any batters in 7 innings of work. Nevertheless, he allowed just 3 hits and 0 runs, as
the Dolphins defeated the Broncos, 3-1.
Miami scored a pair of runs in the 4th inning, and another run in the fifth. The Broncos were unable to manage a run until the ninth inning, but one run was all that they were capable of.
Robert McNett pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs.
Russell Thomas and
Alexis Vazquez managed two hits apiece.