Home Cooking
July 4, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release
Baseball often comes down to the little things, and for a long time Friday night, it appeared that would be the case. But Seth Johnston had other ideas. The Missions designated hitter drilled the first pitch he saw from former Major Leaguer Chad Orvella into the chain-link fence over the left field wall for a walk-off, two-run blast to give the Missions a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Brian Joynt led off the top of the ninth with a bloop, Texas League single to right field to put the tying run aboard. With Joynt running, Mitch Canham laced a shot toward the right field line that seemed headed for extra bases, but right fielder David Lough made an amazing diving catch to save the game for the moment. But Johnston, who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh delivered anyway with a searing line drive for sixth longball of the season.
"That's our theory," explained Missions skipper Terry Kennedy. "Line drive or lower. If you practice that, you're gonna get the ball he hit, backspin and carry."
San Antonio trailed for most of the contest and never led until the game's final pitch. They erased a 2-1 deficit with a run in the eighth, only to allow the Naturals to pull ahead 3-2 in the final frame.
Ed Lucas led off the top of the ninth with a single and was bunted to second by Cody Strait. Lucas then stole third and Cody Clark drew a walk to put runners at the corners with one out. Jose Duarte laid a bunt down the third base line and Logan Forysthe went home with the throw but could not get Lucas who dove in ahead of the throw. Jarrod Dyson followed with another bunt single, but Evan Scribner (5-1) struck out Kurt Mertins and induced an inning-ending ground ball from Jeff Bianchi to limit the damage.
"That was some kind of ugly run they got," said Kennedy of the top of the ninth inning.
Facing a 2-1 deficit, Eric Sogard drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth and Lance Zawadzki followed with a high chop single over first, moving Sogard to third. The Naturals turned to former Tampa Bay Ray Chad Orvella out of the 'pen, who induced Craig Cooper to foul out to first on the first pitch. But in a 1-1 count with Logan Forsythe at the plate, Orvella faked a pick-off to third base as Lance Zawadzki took off from first. The Missions shortstop put on the brakes and raced back towards first as Orvella could not pick him off successfully. Meanwhile, Sogard raced home with the game-tying run.
It was the first steal of home by a Missions player since Craig Cooper accomplished the feat July 12, 2008 against Midland. Sogard reached in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a triple, a pair of walks and the steal.
Orvella (0-1) blew two leads in as many innings to take the loss.
Missions starter Nathan Culp worked through 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and tied his season high with four strikeouts.
Naturals starter Matt Kniginyzky turned in one of his sharpest starts of the season, allowing just a single run on five hits and three walks, punching out five over 6.0 innings of work.
Northwest Arkansas struck for a pair in the second inning against Culp. Corey Smith led off with a single and was erased on David Lough's 6-4 fielder's choice. Ed Lucas then singled Lough to second, and Cody Strait followed with an RBI single to open the scoring. Lucas raced around to third and Brian Joynt's throw from right field short-hopped Logan Forsythe at third, allowing Strait to reach second. Cody Clark followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Lucas to make it 2-0 Naturals.
Lucas finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base, raising his average to .297. He is 8-for-17 with four walks and six runs scored over his current five-game hitting streak.
The Missions struck back for a run in the fifth to cut the lead in half. With one out, Anthony Contreras pulled a double inside first base. He moved to third on a Kniginyzky wild pitch and scored as Luis Durango grounded out to second base.
W: Scribner (5-1); L: Orvella (0-1); S: None; HR: Johnston (6)
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Texas League Stories from July 4, 2009
- Frisco Provides Fireworks Over Springfield - Frisco RoughRiders
- Cards Endure "Rough" Holiday - Springfield Cardinals
- Rogers, Jackson Roll Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Arkansas Wins Slugfest with Midland - Arkansas Travelers
- Home Cooking - San Antonio Missions
- Travs Drop Fifth Straight with 12-Inning Loss - Arkansas Travelers
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