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TL1 San Antonio Missions

Nathan's Famous

June 13, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


In order to put together a win streak, a team needs contributions from all of its members. The Missions got another key performance from lefty Nathan Culp who led San Antonio to a 4-0 shutout of Frisco at Wolff Stadium Friday night, running their win streak to four games and bringing them within two games of first-place Midland with 11 games to go in the first half of the Texas League season.

Culp turned in a quietly dominant performance, inducing 13 ground ball outs over 7.0 shutout innings to win his fourth game of the year. He fanned Johnny Whittleman to work out of his only real jam with two runners on in the seventh. The southpaw scattered four hits and a walk for his second shutdown performance against the RoughRiders at home this season. On April 29th, Culp also tossed 7.0 scoreless frames, but did not factor in the decision.

"Another excellent outing," said manager Terry Kennedy of Culp's start. "He commanded all three pitches, both sides of the plate."

After a disappointing May, Culp has started June red hot, moving to 2-0 without an earned run allowed over 14.0 innings in his first two starts, allowing just 11 baserunners over that span.

"It was nice to open up a new month and just turn the page on May," said Culp of his sharp turnaraound. "I've been working hard with Webby (Missions pitching coach Bruce Webber) on my sinker and slider."

"He's made the adjustments to the league," said Kennedy. "He's worked really hard and it's paying off."

Eric Sogard, Craig Cooper and Cedric Hunter all delivered multi-hit games for the home side, providing more than enough offense. It was Cooper's third straight multi-hit game to open the homestand, and he has gone 6-for-10 with two doubles and four RBI in the series.

The Missions opened the scoring by plating three runs with two outs in the third inning. After Cedric Hunter singled with one out, Michael Collins tapped a slow grounder to third and was called out on a bang-bang play at first, moving Hunter to second with two out. Luis Durango coaxed a walk, his seventh of the series, and Eric Sogard drove in the game's first run with a single to left. Craig Cooper followed with a ringing double to the gap in left center, scoring Durango and Sogard, to make it 3-0.

Frisco starter Michael Kirkman settled down to strike out the side in the fourth, but the Missions struck again in the fifth frame. Cedric Hunter led off with his second hit of the game and stole second with one out. Luis Durango hit a chopper down the first base line fielded by 'Riders first baseman Chad Tracy who flipped the ball to Kirkman for the out, but twisted his ankle in the process. Eric Sogard took advantage of the situation, bunting the first pitch he saw between Tracy and Kirkman for an infield single to score Hunter from third, making it 4-0.

Missions reliever Mike DeMark extended his run to 18.2 innings without allowing an earned run, striking out a pair in a scoreless eighth inning. He lowered his season ERA to 1.45, best among the Missions relief corps.

Evan Scribner needed only five pitches to shut the door in the ninth for the team's sixth shutout of the year. San Antonio will go for their first four-game home sweep tomorrow, since they beat Frisco four straight June 4-7 of last season.

WP: Culp (4-5); LP: Kirkman (1-2); S: None; HR: None

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