Fernandez's Three Hits Not Enough as Missions Fall to the Hooks
July 22, 2022 - Texas League (TL)
San Antonio Missions News Release
SAN ANTONIO - In their first game back from the All-Star Break, the Missions began their three-game homestand with the Corpus Christi Hooks. With more than six thousand fans in the stands, the Missions squared off against Lance McCullers Jr. After allowing four runs in the first inning, the Missions offense struggled to catch the Hooks. San Antonio allowed seven runs while plating four runs of their own. San Antonio begins the brief homestand with a loss.
Ryan Lillie was the starting pitcher for the Missions. Lillie struggled with his command and failed to make it out of the first inning. He issued a lead-off walk to Wilyer Abreu and allowed a single to Joe Perez. Justin Dirden drove in Abreu with a double to left field. After striking out the next batter, he allowed a walk to Will Wagner and then hit Alex McKenna with a pitch. Perez scored on the hit by pitch. Dirden scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch. Wagner scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Cesar Salazar. Lillie was replaced by Felix Minjarez following the sacrifice fly. Corpus took a 4-0 lead.
Lance McCullers Jr. was the starting pitcher for the Hooks. Friday night was the beginning of his rehab assignment as he recovers from a flexor strain injury. The Missions gained one of those runs back in the bottom of the first inning. Thomas Milone hit a one-out single and Domingo Leyba hit a double down the right field line. On the play, Milone came around from first base to score. The Missions trailed 4-1.
The long ball affected the Missions in the top of the second inning. After striking out the first two batters of the inning, Minjarez allowed a single to Perez. Dirden lifted a fly ball over the right field wall for a two-run home run. His 16th homer of the season made it a 6-1 Hooks lead.
McCullers Jr. finished his rehab outing after a scoreless second inning. He was replaced by Cody Deason. The Missions found success off of Deason in the bottom of the fourth inning as they loaded the bases. Ripken Reyes was hit by a pitch to score one run, and then Connor Hollis drew a walk to drive in another run and cut the Hooks' lead to 6-3 after four innings.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Hooks grew their lead to 7-3 as Alex McKenna and Cesar Salazar lined consecutive doubles off of Missions reliever Mason Fox.
The Missions threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning, and a Juan Fernandez single to center field looked like it would score a run. However, Webster Rivas was thrown out at home by Wilyer Abreu.
San Antonio trimmed the deficit to three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Facing Chandler Casey, Jorge Ona and Ripken Reyes hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Hollis followed that up with an RBI single to score Ona. The Missions trailed 7-4.
Post-Game Notes
* With the loss, San Antonio falls to 46-40 (overall), 8-11 (2nd half) on the season
* Kevin Kopps (#13 Padres prospect): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
* Reggie Lawson (#16 Padres prospect): DNP
* Tirso Ornelas (#22 Padres prospect): 1-3, R, BB, HBP, K
The San Antonio Missions will continue their three-game homestand with the Corpus Christi Hooks on Saturday, July 23rd. Left-hander Ben Krauth (0-1, 9.95) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Right-hander Jaime Melendez (2-7, 4.57) is scheduled to pitch for the Hooks. First pitch is expected at 7:05 p.m. from Nelson Wolff Stadium.
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