TL1 San Antonio Missions

Don't Call It A Comeback

Published on April 29, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


The Missions had made a bad habit of leaving runners on base this homestand. They made sure they wouldn't fall victim to the same habit again. The Missions overcame a pair of two-run deficits, using timely hitting and the strength of a four-run eighth inning to take their second straight game, 6-4 over the Frisco RoughRiders at Wolff Stadium Tuesday night.

First baseman Craig Cooper went 2-for-4, singling to start the key four-run outburst that brought the Missions back. He has hit in all 17 games he has started this year, and extended his hit streak to a team-high 13 in a row. After tonight's performance, his average stands at .377.

"Usually I get off to slow starts," said Cooper. "But I'm glad to get off to a hot start and score some runs."

The Missions entered the eighth with a 4-2 deficit, but batted around in the inning, using four hits and two walks to turn the two-run hole into a two-run advantage. Anthony Contreras' pinch-single through the right side tied the game, and Luis Durango's seeing eye chopper up the middle plated two to give the Missions the lead. After leaving 39 runners on base through the first five games of the homestand, San Antonio still went only 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, but got two of those hits when they needed them most.

"If guys can do that all year, we're gonna have no problem," Cooper said of the late clutch hitting.

The Missions struggled mightily against Frisco in 2008, winning only 11 of the 32 matchups, including a 5-11 mark at home. They are on their way to bucking that trend, though, having taken the first two from the 'Riders this season.

"All those guys can hit," said Missions manager Terry Kennedy of the Frisco offense. "We're just trying to change what happened last year."

Missions starter Cesar Carrillo looked shaky out of the gate, giving up two hits and a four-pitch walk to load the bases with nobody out in the first. He needed 26 pitches to get through the opening frame, but was able to limit the damage, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly by Frisco designated hitter Steve Murphy before retiring the side.

Carrillo set down the next nine straight before Chad Tracy worked a 10-pitch at-bat for a leadoff walk in the fourth, and Murphy followed with an RBI-double over the head of Luis Durango in center field to put the 'Riders up 2-0.

Frisco starter Michael Schlact looked sharp after coming off the disabled list earlier in the day. He kept the Missions hitless through the first three innings, but things started to unravel in the fourth. Cedric Hunter singled to left to open the inning, Eric Sogard bunted for a single and Cooper singled over shortstop Marcus Lemon's head to load the bases with nobody out, chasing Schlact from the game after 41 pitches.

RoughRiders reliever Beau Jones came on and did not give up a hit, but walked in a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2 before getting Jesus Lopez to pop out to end the threat.

Frisco forged back in front on Manny Pina's RBI single, knocking Cesar Carrillo out of the game in the sixth inning. The 'Riders would add another run on a Johnny Whittleman RBI-single off Derek McDaid to make it 4-2 before San Antonio could escape the jam.

Evan Scribner tossed a perfect ninth for the second straight night to earn his third save of the year, lowering his ERA to a team-best 1.04.

WP: Gomes (1-0); LP: Hamilton; S: Scribner (3); HR: None

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Texas League Stories from April 29, 2009


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