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San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions Game Notes vs. Tulsa

April 15, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Tonight is the finale of a three-game set between the San Antonio Missions and the Tulsa Drillers at Wolff Stadium. With a win tonight, the Missions would finish their first homestand of 2014 with an even record of 3-3. On the hill for San Antonio Tuesday night will be veteran right hander Josh Geer, who will be pitching in his 200th career minor league game. The Forney, TX native has played in San Antonio in parts of four different seasons and in 2013, played a major role for the TL champs, finishing the year 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 34 games (11 starts). In 100.1 innings last season with the Missions, Josh sported an impressive K:BB ratio of 80:26. The former Rice University star has carried last year's momentum into 2014, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out four over his first two starts (10 IP). Geer's mound opponent tonight will be fellow righty Dan Winkler, who took a no-hitter into the seventh in his last start at Corpus Christi on April 10. Unfortunately for Winkler, he turned out to be the hard-luck loser in the Drillers 6-0 loss to the Hooks after allowing two runs and two walks, while striking out three. Colorado selected Winkler in the 20th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Florida. Winkler spent most of 2013 with High-A Modesto, but did make five starts with Tulsa, where he was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA.

LAST GAME: Dominant pitching and a key late hit helped San Antonio edge Tulsa 2-1 Monday night at Wolff Stadium.

The much anticipated pitcher's duel between San Antonio's Matt Wisler and Tulsa's Eddie Butler certainly lived up to the hype, despite it being a windy night at the Wolff. Wisler's night nearly got off to a rocky start when the Drillers loaded the bases in the top of the first with just one out. Fortunately for the Missions, the Bryan, OH native settled down, striking out left fielder Brian Humphries before inducing third baseman Jayson Langfels to hit into an inning- ending fly out to right. The first inning threat was as close as Tulsa would get to Wisler, who allowed just three hits and three walks, while striking out six in five shutout frames. Wisler (1-0) has pitched to a 2.08 ERA this season with a K:BB ratio of 17:4 in 13 innings. Butler (0-1) was on top of his game as well, allowing just one hit during his first trip through the Missions lineup. However, the second hit he allowed Monday was costly, as Rymer Liriano's wind-aided homer to right gave San Antonio a 1-0 lead in the fourth. It was Liriano's first dinger of the season. The Tulsa right hander did not allow another run until the bottom of the seventh when Travis Jankowski (2-for-4) drilled a clutch, two-out RBI triple to right center. Jankowski's first triple of the season turned out to be a big one, because in the eighth, the Drillers ended the Missions' shutout bid and threatened to do much more. Tulsa opened the frame with back-to-back singles by Dustin Garneau and Harold Riggins off reliever Dennis O'Grady. San Antonio Manager Rich Dauer turned to lefty Jeff Ibarra, who was activated off the DL earlier in the day. Ibarra got the first out of the inning when pinch hitter Tim Smalling popped up to second baseman Cory Spangenberg. After a Joey Wong infield single loaded the bases, Ibarra gave up a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyler Massey that trimmed the San Antonio lead to one. Dauer elected to next go to his closer Johnny Barbato, who got the Missions out of the inning by fanning Jared Simon.

Barbato came back out for the ninth, where he set the Drillers down in order for his fourth save of the season.

ON THE LEADERBOARD: San Antonio has gotten off to a slow start statistically in 2014, but there are several players currently out to big seasons. Jace Peterson has shined the brightest on the offensive side, entering play batting .381 (16-for-42) with three doubles, a homer, seven RBI, nine runs, two steals, eight walks and just four strikeouts over his first 11 games at the Double-A level. The former McNeese State two-sport star is 2nd in the TL in hits and OBP at .480 and 4th in AVG, total bases with 22 and SO/9 IP Ratio at 12.50. Wisler is 1st in the TL in SO/9 IP Ratio at 11.77 and is tied with Butler for the lead in strikeouts. In addition to leading the league in saves, Barbato is also tied for the lead in games (6) and games finished (5). The San Antonio closer is also 4th in fewest baserunners/9 IP Ratio at 4.32 and 5th in lowest BB-IBB/9 IP Ratio at 1.08.

ROSTER NEWS: The San Diego Padres announced a move earlier today, affecting the Missions roster. RHP Matt Branham has been promoted to Triple-A El Paso. In four games with San Antonio this season, Branham was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA, striking out nine in 7.1 innings. RHP John Hussey, who was on the DL with an ankle injury, will take Branham's place on the Missions roster. The Mornington Victoria, Australia native has a lifetime record of 18-22 in 115 games (48 starts). Hussey is likely to join the club in Midland, where the Missions and RockHounds will play a four-game set from April 17-20.

TWO-OUT MAGIC: Though the team has struggled collectively at the plate, the Missions have been very good early this season at extending innings. In their first 10 games of the year, 19 of the club's 36 RBI have come with two outs.

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