Two close as Broncos fall 5-1

By DENNIS SILVA II
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Two.

That’s the number which separates the Laredo Broncos from the fifth-place Edinburg Coyotes, the number in which a playoff berth sits following Laredo’s 5-1 loss to Alexandria before a crowd of 616 at Veterans Field on Friday night.

Accompanied with Edinburg’s 3-1 win over Harlingen, the Broncos’ hold on the fourth and final playoff spot is now two games as they fell to 29-32, losing their eighth game in their last 10 tries.

Alexandria continued its hot streak, winning its sixth straight game, and 11th of 13, as it improved to 38-23.

Broncos ace Santo Hernandez (6-4) was tagged with the loss.

He threw seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out 10 and walking one.

It was the third game this season in which he struck out at least 10 batters.

Two of those contests have been at Alexandria’s expense.

Alexandria’s Ramon Portillo (6-2) earned the win, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits.

He struck out one and walked two.

As has been the case for most of the season, the Broncos waited to be attacked before attacking.

The Aces got on the scoreboard first courtesy of Rafael Ozuna’s two-run home run to left field with one out to break a scoreless contest in the fourth inning.

Ivan Reyes’ ninth home run of the season, and second of the series, to lead off the fifth cut the Broncos’ deficit to one.

The Broncos took that deficit into the ninth before everything fell apart.

After left-handed reliever Rusty Jones loaded the bases with no outs, Bryan Sabatella and Eddie Fitzpatrick scored off a throwing error, and Jones’ bases-loaded walk to Andre Marshall with two outs padded the Aces’ lead to four runs.

The Aces’ Wayne Hedden retired the side to close the game.

Laredo compiled one run on two hits to Alexandria’s five runs on 10 hits.

The Broncos’ offense was bewildered all night long, managing just two hits against Portillo, and none against the Aces’ bullpen trio of B.J. Litchfield, Juan Carlos Ovalles and Hedden.

The Broncos’ lack of offense has been nothing new of late, however, as they are hitting .233 and averaging 4.8 runs per game in their last six games.

The Broncos and Aces continue their four-game series with Game 3 tonight at 7:35 p.m.

BRONCO BITS: The Broncos activated pitcher Mickey Callaway and infielder Johnny Lopez prior to Friday’s game. Reliever Nathan Crawford (0-2, 8.87 ERA, one save in 18 appearances) was released, and another release is pending. Callaway, formerly the head baseball coach at TAMIU and recently the Broncos’ pitching coach, made his debut in the eighth inning, allowing no hits and striking out one while walking two. He had not pitched in over a year, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Lopez, who missed most of the season with a wrist injury, went 0-for-3. … With Thursday’s attendance total of 731, the Broncos have fallen to last place in attendance in United League Baseball. They now claim an average of 1,185, falling beneath Alexandria, which averages 1,200. That average figures to fall further considering Friday’s attendance total of 616.
(Dennis Silva II may be reached at 728-2579 or at dsilva@lmtonline.com)