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Courtesy Danny Angel,

(August 12th, LAREDO, TX) –The Broncos (35-39) used a home run by Nick Mahin, his eighth of the year and a two run home run by Doug Thennis, his seventh of the year to climb away from the Thunder (27-47) and secure the 10-4 victory in game two of the series.  The Broncos, with the victory were able to pick up a game on the fourth place Colts and now stand two games back of the final playoff spot in the United League.

The Broncos, looking in from the outside on the United League playoff picture sent RHP Juan Peralta (8-2) to the mound to try to string two wins in a row against the Thunder, who sent LHP Jorge Lugo (0-1) to the mound.

Peralta retired the Thunder in order in the top of the first and the Broncos re paid their starting pitcher by taking the lead in the bottom half of the inning.  Jason Diaz started things off with a walk, followed by a single by Charlie Pagliarulo.  A double steal moved both runners up to second and third and a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop allowed Diaz to score from third and give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.  With two outs Chili’s player of the week D.J Dixon knocked in Pagliarulo with a single and the leas was 2-0 Broncos.

In the bottom of the second, after Peralta got a double play ball to end the top half of the second, the Broncos added a run to their lead.  Jonathan Cisneros singled to start the inning. After a Doug Thennis strikeout Maiko Loyola reached on a fielder’s choice.  Loyola then stole second base, his first stolen base in a Broncos uniform and came home to score on the Jason Diaz RBI single that gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the fourth the Broncos picked up three hits coupled with three errors committed by the Coastal Bend Thunder.  Cisneros singled and was ruled safe on a throwing error by Ron Fenwick that put runners on first and second.  Loyola dropped a sacrifice bunt down that moved both runners up a big and Jason Diaz reached on an error charged to Mike Lewis, the Thunder second baseman. Lewis’s error allowed Cisneros to score and then an errant throw by the pitcher Jorge Lugo that landed in left field allowed both Thennis and Diaz to score.  The RBI single by Salvador Paniagua capped off the scoring and the Broncos led 7-0.

Through the first five inning Peralta was stingy, allowing only three hits to the Thunder, he walked a batter as well while stranding all the runners.  in the top of the sixth the Thunder finally broke through against Peralta.  It came courtesy of an error charged to shortstop Jason Diaz that allowed Mike Lewis to reach base.  A wild pitch moved Lewis to third base and he came home to score on the Kevin Griffin sacrifice fly and the score was 7-1 Broncos.

Peralta pitched six innings, allowing only four hits, one unearned run, he walked two and struck out four, Peralta departed with a 7-1 lead.  LHP Brian Buchanan (6-4) came in and struck out the first batter he faced.  Buchanan then walked, then Juan Caberra singled and Dustin Smith brought home the second run for the Thunder with an RBI ground out.  Mike Lewis came up with two outs and a runner on base and he homered to make it a 7-4 Bronco lead. RHP Maximinio De La Cruz (0-2) came in and picked up the final out of the inning and the Broncos held their 7-4 lead.

Nick Mahin woke up the Broncos with one swing of the bat, a solo home run over the left-center field wall that gave the Broncos an 8-4 lead.  Doug Thennis was not to be out done as two batters later, after a Jonathan Cisneros double, he homered to give the Broncos a 10-4 lead.

De La Cruz remained in the game and faced four batters in the top of the eighth, holding the Thunder scoreless in the frame.

The Broncos went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth and De La Cruz came back out for the top of the ninth.  Coastal Bend sent three men to the plate and the Broncos picked up the 10-4 victory in game two of the series.  The Broncos have now won six in a row over the Thunder dating back to July 30th.

WP: Peralta (8-2)
LP: Lugo (0-1)
S: None