Broncos win 4-0 in shortened contest

By DENNIS SILVA II
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

On a miserable and dreary afternoon which brought heavy rains sandwiched between isolated breaks, the Broncos were able to provide some sunshine.

Behind Luany Sanchez’s three-run blast in the third inning, the Broncos muddied the Edinburg Coyotes with timely hitting and steady pitching to earn a 4-0 win in 4 1/2 innings before a crowd of 860 at Veterans Field on Tuesday.

The contest was called off due to poor field conditions after Sanchez tripled to lead off the fifth inning. It was an official game as soon as the top of the fifth was completed.

“The footing out there was cakey,” said Broncos left-hander Sean Donlin, who earned the Mini-Me version of a complete-game shutout by throwing four innings, surrendering seven hits while striking out five and walking one.

“So after every other pitch, you had to shake your shoe and get the cake off. The field definitely wasn’t up to par.”

Added outfielder Dwayne White, “It was pretty bad around first base, and the turn around first. It’s bad footing for all of us and it could have been pretty dangerous.”

The Broncos take a 24-24 record into today’s much-needed off day after playing 36 consecutive games.

Their last day off was on May 26.

“It’s definitely nice to be able to get some rest and then keep the momentum going,” said White of the Broncos’ second consecutive win. “It’s good that we get a win going into an off day and then we can get right back to work.”

The Coyotes fell to 20-28 and are now four games behind the Broncos for the fourth and final United League Baseball playoff spot.

The Broncos got all the offense they needed in a four-run, two-hit third inning.

White’s RBI single to shallow center with one out put the Broncos on the scoreboard first before Sanchez, who has homered in the last four games, drilled his 12th bomb of the season on a booming three-run shot to left field in the following at-bat.

Donlin (2-2) scattered the seven hits he allowed but escaped a couple of jams late as the Coyotes stranded six runners.

He made timely pitches, however, and never lost his poise and control despite a sloppy environment.

“Luany and I were on the same page,” Donlin said of his catcher. “He called the right pitches and I felt good out there. I was able to hit my spots.”

Coyotes right-hander Carlos Jan (1-1) got the loss, throwing five innings and allowing four runs on three hits while striking out one and walking five.

The Broncos will have today off before starting a three-game home series against Harlingen on Thursday.