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July 8, 2009-San Angelo, TX-the Laredo Broncos used a 5 run 9th to take a late lead, but the San Angelo Colts scored 2 in the 9th to tie it and 1 in the 10th to win by a score of 8-7 at Foster Field, on Wednesday.

The Colts struck first in the 3rd inning.  Butch Ballez led off the inning with a solo home run, his 1st of the season.  That gave San Angelo the early 1-0 lead.

The Broncos’ offense was getting frustrated by Colts’ starter Drew Coffey.  Coffey held Laredo scoreless for the 1st 5 innings, but that would change in the 6th.  With 1 out, Miguel Ortiz reached on a throwing error by 3rd baseman Blake Shaffer allowing him to go to 2nd base.  Mario Mendez followed with a 2 run home run, his 5th of the season.  That gave Laredo the 2-1 lead.

Broncos’ starter Gregorio Martinez was sailing along through his fist 6 innings, but ran into trouble in the 7th.  The Colts loaded the bases with no one out.  Joe Rhomberg came up and grounded out, but a run scored on the play.  However, Martinez would get the next 2 batters on groundouts and no other runs scored, so the game was tied at 2.

The Colts untied the game in the 8th inning off of Martinez.  Once again the Colts had the bases loaded with no one out.  Martinez got Jason Landreth to pop out for the 1st out.  However, Josh Collazo came up and cleared the bases with a 3 run double.  That also chased Martinez from the game as Edgar Soto came in.  He would get the last 2 outs as the Broncos trailed 5-2 going to the 9th.

Martinez ended up going 7 1/3 innings for the Broncos.  He gave up 5 runs on 10 hits, walked 3 and struck out 1.  Broncos’ would have to rally in the 9th against San Angelo closer Chace Vacek trialing by 3.

Vacek retired the first 2 men he faced, but Robert Moron and OJ Garza hit back to back singles to bring up the tying run.  David Cardona would be that batter as he came up as a pinch hitter.  Cardona drew a walk to load the bases.  Anthony Bennett then came up to the plate pinch hitting for Ryan Flynn.  Bennett would draw another walk as Moron would score.  Luis Ugueto then delivered a 2 run single scoring both Garza and Andres Santos who pinch ran.  Miguel Ortiz then reached on an infield single which scored Bennett and gave the Broncos the lead.  Mario Mendez followed with a rbi double scoring Ugueto.  The Broncos scored 5 runs in the 9th to take a 7-5 lead.

Edgar Soto started off the bottom of the 9th by hitting Hank Lanto.  Julio Pinto was then sent into the game looking for the save.  Pinto was greeted rudely by a Butch Ballez double putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out.  Bradley Goldsmith followed with a 2 run single to tie the game.  After a sacrifice bunt moved Goldsmith to 2nd, Ronnie Gaines was intentionally walked.  Jason Landreth then hit into the double play to end the threat and send the game to extra innings tied at 7.

San Angelo put runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out in the bottom of the 10th against Pinto. After 1 out, Hank Lanto singled to load the bases.  Pinto got Ballez to strike out for the 2nd out, but Bradley Goldsmith hit the rbi single to give the Colts the 8-7 win.

The Broncos scored 7 runs on 10 hits and had 1 error while the Colts scored 8 runs on 15 hits and had 5 errors.

The Broncos are now 9-18 on the season while the Colts are 18-9.  The Broncos will next be in action Thursday July 9th, as they play the finale of a 4 game series against the San Angelo Colts in San Angelo at 7:05.  You can listen to that game and all 80 Broncos games this year on our website www.laredobroncos.com thru our partners at www.sportsujuice.com.

WP: Jacob Ramos (2-0)
LP:  Julio Pinto (0-2)
S: None

HR:     Broncos: Mario Mendez (5th of season)   Colts: Butch Ballez (1st of season)