Broncos move back to. 500 with 7-6 win over Aces

By DENNIS SILVA II

LAREDO MORNING TIMES

With their pitching in shambles, either because of injury or poor performance, the Broncos got back to their winning ways by doing what they do best.

United League Baseball's top home-run hitting club drilled four more on Thursday night, three in the second inning, as the Broncos snapped a three-game losing streak by silencing the Alexandria Aces, 7-6, before a crowd of 794 at Veterans Field.

Eric Padilla's go-ahead two run bomb with two outs in the eighth inning was all Laredo needed to get back to .500 and tighten the race for second place in ULB.

The Broncos, who improved their home run total to 37, improved to 14-14 as the Aces fell to the same record to force a third-place tie.

Amarillo and San Angelo stand first and second, respectively, in the league standings.

With usual No. 4 starter Sean Donlin sidelined due to injury, the Broncos went with a "pitch by committee" alignment, using seven pitchers to hold the Aces to six hits while compiling 10 strikeouts and walking 13.

The Broncos led 3-0 early after Luany Sanchez, Santiago Guerrero and Arnoldo Ponce drilled home runs in the second inning.

The Aces rallied to tie with a three-run, two-hit fifth inning before Sanchez nailed a RBI single to put the Broncos back on top in the bottom of the inning.

But Alexandria countered with ease, staying patient at the plate and forcing Bronco pitchers to go deep into counts and expend energy.

Selwyn Langaigne drilled a solo blast to leadoff the seventh before Matlock and pinch hitter Albert Gonzalez tallied consecutive RBI singles to take the lead for Alexandria in the eighth.

But their efforts did nothing but make way for a dramatic eighth inning for Laredo.

After Ponce scored on an error, Padilla excited the locals with a deep two-run homer with two outs.

The Aces threatened by putting two runners on with one out before John Smith struck out Jose Umbria and the Broncos caught Madison Edwards stealing to complete the double play.

Dave Wasylak (1-0) got the win, throwing one inning, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits while walking one and striking out one.

Ronald Ramirez (0-1) got the loss, throwing one inning, allowing three runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out one.

Smith got his second save of the season.

The Laredo win paves way for a thrilling rubber game tonight as the Broncos look to claim third place outright with a series win.