The Nashville Predators (82-80)
AT
The Denver Broncos (107-55)
Ray Lockridge and
Alexis Vazquez stepped up for the Broncos in a 4-1 victory over the Predators that forced a seventh game in this series. Lockridge threw a complete game, 5-hitter, and struck out 7 batters. Vazquez, who came into the game with no RBI in the series, had 2 hits and 3 RBI. His two run homerun in the fifth inning broke open a 2-0 game and made it 4-0.
Around the league:
The Dolphins forced a seventh game in this divisional round series with a seemingly inexorable onslaught of runs. Tucson struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but Miami followed with two runs in the first, one run in the second, and a run in the third to make it 4-1. The Diamondbacks inched within two runs by scoring in the fourth inning, but the Dolphins followed with runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make it a 6-2 game. Tucson got on the board one final time, with a run in the eighth inning, but Miami ended any further discussion with a four run eighth inning. The Dolphins prevailed by a score of 10-3, banging out 16 hits in the game. Every batter for Miami reached base at least once in the game, and every batter managed to either drive in a run or score a run.
The Bills led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning on the strength of homeruns by
Rodrigo Rios and
Fred Claire, but the Sharks scored twice in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, San Jose blew open the game with a four run outburst. The 7-2 lead held up, and the Sharks became the first team to clinch its series. San Jose will now await the winner of the San Diego-Pittsburgh series. Rightfielder
James Lumsden delivered 3 hits and 3 RBI in the game. Starting pitcher
Benito Ortiz pitched 7 innings and struck out 8 batters.
Andrew Burdick lifted the Padres onto his shoulders and carried them to a seventh game. Burdick homered twice in the first two innings, and San Diego built a 6-2 lead on the Pirates. The Padres cruised to a 9-4 victory to force Game 7. Burdick finished with 5 RBI in the game, and thirdbaseman
Adam Chilson contributed with 3 hits, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Starter
Carlos Lozoya wasn't as sharp as he could have been, but he still punched out 12 Pirates' batters in just 6 innings.