Broncos' win moves them a half-game back of 2nd place

By DENNIS SILVA II
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

The Broncos’ godsends Wednesday night were pitchers who arrived in Laredo just two days ago and had yet to pitch in a game all season.

In a critical series with second place in United League Baseball on the line, right-handed starter Richard Bartlett and lefty reliever Rhett Barber performed admirably, shutting down United League Baseball’s top offense as the Broncos overwhelmed the San Angelo Colts, 9-3, before a crowd of 712 at Veterans Field.

The Broncos improved to 18-16 with the win as the Colts fell to 19-16.

San Angelo is still a half-game ahead of Laredo for second place in the league heading into today’s rubber game.

Bartlett (1-0), pitching in the No. 5 spot, threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out seven and walking three to earn his first win in his first outing this year.

In three innings of relief, Barber allowed no runs on no hits while striking out four and walking two, earning his first save in his first appearance this season.

The Colts jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Bryan Frichter and Aaron Cone each drilled RBI doubles in the first and third innings, respectively.

But that would be the last thing heard from the Colts in a while as Laredo scored three runs on two hits in consecutive innings to take a 6-2 lead.

In the third inning, Dwayne White, who extended his hitting streak to 23 games, scored on a wild pitch before Luany Sanchez drilled a RBI double.

Santiago Guerrero’s RBI groundout ended the scoring in the inning.

In the following inning, the Colts did all they could to add to the Broncos’ lead.

Ivan Reyes scored on a passed ball before Matt Lawman scored on a wild pitch.

White would add insult to injury with a RBI double to extend Laredo’s lead to four runs.

The Broncos would blow open the game in the sixth, scoring three runs on two hits, highlighted by White’s three-run blast with two outs to left center field.

But it was Barber’s performance in the seventh that really fired up Bronco fans.

After righty Justin Staatz left him with a two-on no-out jam following Frichter’s RBI single in the seventh, Barber escaped brilliantly, forcing a flyout before striking out the next two batters to escape the inning unharmed.

He then proceeded to tally two more strikeouts in the eighth, dousing any hopes of a late Colts rally.

He earned the save in the ninth after forcing another flyout and a double-play after walking Robert Mendoza to leadoff the inning.

Colts starter Billy McKinney (0-2) got the loss, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits while striking out four and walking four.

White led the Broncos at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs, finishing a triple short of the cycle.

Lawman also tallied three hits, in four at-bats, and Sanchez and Ben Tinius had two hits apiece.
The Broncos compiled 11 hits and one error as the Colts managed six hits and no errors.

Right-hander Andy Schon (3-1, 5.06 ERA) is slated to start tonight’s game for Laredo.

His opponent will be Colts ace Luke Massetti (3-1, 4.63).

BRONCO BITS: To make room for Bartlett on Laredo’s roster, reliever Julian Williams was released. Williams was 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in 12 appearances. He struck out 23 and walked 14 in 22.2 innings pitched. … Edgard Clemente and Arnoldo Ponce were held out of Wednesday’s contest due to injury. Clemente has a bum shoulder and also missed Tuesday’s contest. He will be evaluated on Friday. Ponce has a quad injury that was aggravated on Tuesday. His timetable for return is unknown. … Left-hander Sean Donlin is expected to be activated off the inactive list on Friday. He injured his side approximately two weeks ago and has been out of action since. “I haven’t been in pain for awhile now,” Donlin told Broncos General Manager Jose Melendez on Wednesday. “And I’m throwing 100 percent. I’m ready to go.” Donlin, the Broncos’ No. 4 starter, is in line to start Friday’s game if all goes as planned.