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TL San Antonio Missions

Dixon Hits for the Cycle, Ties Franchise Record in Hit Parade at NW Arkansas

August 18, 2022 - Texas League (TL)
San Antonio Missions News Release


SAN ANTONIO - It was a historical night for the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday night in Springdale. The Missions offense scored 20 runs for the first time since 2018. Brandon Dixon became the eighth player in Missions history to hit for the cycle. He also tied the franchise record with nine RBI in one game. San Antonio outlasted the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, who scored 15 runs of their own. The Missions won their fourth consecutive game with a 20-15 final score.

Brandon Komar was the starting pitcher for the Missions. He entered Wednesday night after tossing three consecutive quality starts. The Naturals ended that streak in the bottom of the first inning as they plated five runs on five hits. Tucker Bradley began the inning with a double and Diego Hernandez reached base on a bunt single. After striking out the next batter, Hernandez stole second base and Bradley scored on a throwing error from catcher Webster Rivas. CJ Alexander drove in Hernandez with a double. John Rave provided the big blow of the inning with a three-run home run. His 12th homer of the season made it a 5-0 Naturals lead.

Dante Biasi was the starting pitcher for Northwest Arkansas. After a scoreless first inning, the Missions offense took the lead with a six-run inning. The Missions loaded the bases on walks to Ethan Skender and Domingo Leyba as well as Ripken Reyes getting hit by a pitch. Tirso Ornelas drove in the first run with a single to center field. Ahead in 2-1 count, Brandon Dixon hit a grand slam over the left field wall. This was the fourth consecutive game that Dixon hit a home run. Walter Pennington came on to pitch for the Naturals to replace Biasi. He allowed an RBI triple to Juan Fernandez for the sixth run of the inning. San Antonio took a 6-5 lead.

The Missions improved their lead and added two runs in the top of the third inning. Connor Kaiser began the inning with a base hit and Reyes hit a double. Leyba drove in Kaiser with a ground out. Ornelas drove in his second run of the game after hitting a single to right field. The Missions improved their lead to 8-5.

Northwest Arkansas cut into the deficit and scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. After issuing a leadoff walk to Gentry, Alexander hit a single to right-center field. Robbie Glendinning grounded out and drove in Gentry for the first run of the inning. Alexander came in to score on a ground out from Luca Tresh. The Naturals cut the lead to 8-7.

San Antonio nearly doubled their lead in the top of the fourth inning as they plated five runs while collecting just one hit. Fernandez was hit by a pitch and Kelvin Melean drew a walk to start the frame. After a sacrifice bunt, the Missions loaded the bases after Kaiser drew a walk. Reyes was issued a walk and drove in Fernandez. Nathan Webb was called on to pitch in place of Pennington. He allowed a run to score on a sacrifice fly from Leyba. After issuing a walk to Ornelas, Dixon came up to the plate with the bases loaded. He cleared the bases with a triple to right-center field. Through four innings, he was a single away from the cycle and the Missions had a 13-7 advantage.

History was made in the top of the fifth inning. After scoring twice in the inning, Dixon came up to the plate a single shy of hitting for the cycle. He hit a line drive into center field for an RBI single. He became the eighth Missions player in history to hit for the cycle and the first since Trent Grisham on July 30th, 2019. In five innings of play, the Missions had a 16-7 lead and Dixon drove in eight of them.

San Antonio added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Yorman Rodriguez drove in a run with a ground out. Fernandez also drove in a run with a ground out. The Missions tied their season-high with 18 runs scored.

Northwest Arkansas continued to fight back and scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. With Edwuin Bencomo on the mound, he issued a walk to the leadoff hitter, Alexander. Brhet Bewley capitalized on the free pass and hit a two-run home run. His third long ball of the season made it an 18-9 ballgame.

The hit parade continued as the Missions plated their 19th and 20th runs of the game in the top of the eighth inning. Reyes drove in a run with a ground out. With two outs in the inning, Dixon drove in his ninth run of the inning. He became the fourth player in franchise history to drive in nine runs in a game, tying the franchise record. The Missions scored 20 runs for the first time since May 1st, 2018.

The Naturals refused to give up and scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Felix Minjarez took the mound and he only recorded one out before being replaced by Fred Schlichtholz. The first run of the inning scored on a wild pitch. Jake Means drove in a run with a base hit. Morgan McCullough drove in a run with a single. Tyler Cropley, who also pitched in the game, plated a run with a sacrifice fly. Diego Hernandez drove in the fifth run with a single. Lastly, Gentry drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The southpaw struck out Alexander to end the game.

Post-Game Notes

* With the win, San Antonio improves to 20-21 (2nd half), 58-50 (overall) on the season

* 8th Cycle in Missions history, first since Trent Grisham (7/30/19)

* First 20-run game since May 1, 2018 (20-4 at Frisco)

* Brandon Dixon: 4th consecutive game with a home run, new career high in single game RBI and hits, tied Missions single game record with 9 RBI in one game (4th player to do so)

* 5th Grand Slam by a Missions player this season, 1st career Grand Slam for Dixon

* 2nd Missions player with a 7-RBI game this season (Webster Rivas)

* Webster Rivas: Ejected in the 2nd inning for arguing strikeout call

* Noel Vela (#12 Padres prospect): DNP

* Tirso Ornelas (#20 Padres prospect): 3-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, K

* Kevin Kopps (#25 Padres prospect): DNP

* Moises Lugo (#30 Padres prospect): DNP

The San Antonio Missions will continue their six-game series with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Thursday, August 18th. Left-hander Noel Vela (0-1, 12.46) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Right-hander Alec Marsh (1-11, 7.85) is scheduled to pitch for the Naturals. First pitch is expected at 7:05 p.m. from Arvest Ballpark.

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