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TL San Antonio Missions

Missions Complete Comeback and Walk-off Amarillo in 10th

August 26, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
San Antonio Missions News Release


SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Missions continued their six-game series with the Amarillo Sod Poodles on Saturday night. With the offense struggling early on, the Missions were able to complete a 4-0 deficit and eventually grab the lead in the eighth inning. In extras, newcomer Graham Pauley sent the crowd home happy with a walk-off single. The Missions won 6-5 in 10 innings.

Jairo Iriarte was the starting pitcher for the Missions. After striking out the side in the first inning, the right-hander failed to make it out of the second inning. He began the frame by hitting Seth Beer with a pitch and allowing a single to Deyvison De Los Santos. Camden Duzenack singled and Beer came in to score. Iriarte retired the next batter before walking S.P. Chen to load the bases. Tim Tawa drew a walk which scored De Los Santos. The right-hander struck out the next batter before handing the ball off to Raul Brito. Brito struck out A.J. Vukovich to limit the damage. Amarillo grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Will Mabrey was the starting pitcher for the Sod Poodles. After a scoreless first inning, the Missions put two runners on base in the second frame. Michael De La Cruz began the inning with a base hit and Juan Fernandez drew a walk. Ethan Salas struck out for the first out of the frame. Connor Hollis ended the frame with a double play.

Amarillo had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning. Camden Duzenack drew a walk to start the inning. Brito sat down the next batter before unloading a wild pitch. The right-hander walked S.P. Chen to put two runners on base. Brito left them stranded after retiring the next two batters.

Mabrey's night came to an end after three innings of work. The former Tennessee Volunteer allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two batters. Conor Grammes took over for Amarillo in the fourth inning.

The Sod Poodles added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Ivan Melendez reached base with a one-out single. Beer reached base with a single and Melendez advanced to third base. After striking out the next batter, a wild pitch from Brito allowed Melendez to score. Amarillo improved their lead to 3-0.

A fielding mistake allowed Amarillo to score their fourth run of the game in the sixth inning. Facing Seth Mayberry, Chen drew a one-out walk. Tawa grounded into a force out with Chen out at second base. Caleb Roberts singled to right field. On the play, Connor Hollis misplayed the ball and Tawa scored from first base.

The Missions ended the shutout with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Facing Emailin Montilla, Korry Howell began the inning with a base hit to center field. Ripken Reyes reached base on a fielder's choice. A fielding error by Chen allowed Howell to move to third base. Jackson Merrill drove in Howell with a single to left field. A passed ball allowed Reyes and Merrill to move into scoring position. Marcos Castanon and Graham Pauley each drove in runs with ground outs. San Antonio cut the deficit to 4-3.

San Antonio completed the comeback and gained the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Facing Christian Montes de Oca, Howell began the frame with a base hit. Reyes laid down a sacrifice bunt and Howell moved up a base. Merrill tied the game with a base hit to right field. A balk moved Merrill to second base. After recording the second out, Pauley drove in Merrill with a base hit to left field to give the Missions a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the ninth inning, Efrain Contreras entered the game looking to convert the save. Tawa began the inning with a double to left field. Roberts drew a walk to put the winning run on base. Amarillo tied the game on an RBI single from Vukovich. Melendez grounded into a double play and Roberts advanced to third base. Beer was intentionally walked and Neyfy Castillo pinch-ran for the former big leaguer. De Los Santos struck out to end the inning. Amarillo forced a 5-5 tie.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Juan Fernandez reached base on a fielding error. Salas followed that with a single to right field. Jakob Marsee entered as a pinch-runner for Fernandez. Hollis advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Howell struck out swinging for the second out. Reyes struck out swinging to end the scoring threat.

In the top of the 10th inning, Contreras remained on the mound and De Los Santos was the placed runner at second base. Duzenack popped out to begin the frame. J.J. D'Orazio flew out to center field for the second out. Jancarlos Cintron, pinch-hitting for Chen, grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 10th inning, Liam Norris took the mound for Amarillo and Reyes was the placed runner at second base. Merrill flew out to start the frame. Castanon was given an intentional walk. Pauley ended the game with a single to the right-center field gap.

Post-Game Notes

* Final Score: 6-5 (10)

* With the win, San Antonio improves to 24-26 & 61-58 on the season

* 11th extra-innings game of the season (9-2)

* 6th walk-off win of the season

* Jairo Iriarte (Missions starter): ND, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

* Will Mabrey (Sod Poodles starter): ND, 3.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K

* Attendance: 4,148

Prospect Recap

* Ethan Salas (#1 Padres prospect, #5 MLB): 1-4, 2 K

* Jackson Merrill (#2 Padres prospect, #9 MLB): 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R

* Robby Snelling (#3 Padres prospect, #64 MLB): DNP

* Jairo Iriarte (#6 Padres prospect): L, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

* Adam Mazur (#7 Padres prospect): DNP

* Nathan Martorella (#10 Padres prospect): DNP

* Graham Pauley (#11 Padres prospect): 2-5, 3 RBI, K

* Jakob Marsee (#12 Padres prospect): DNP

* Ryan Bergert (#16 Padres prospect): DNP

* Marcos Castañon (#23 Padres prospect): 0-4, RBI, BB, K

* Deyvison De Los Santos (#5 D-Backs prospect): 1-5, R, 2 K

* Ivan Melendez (#8 D-Backs prospect): 1-5, R, K

* A.J. Vukovich (#10 D-Backs prospect): 1-5, RBI, 3 K

* J.J. D'Orazio (#25 D-Backs prospect): 0-5

The San Antonio Missions will conclude their six-game series with the Amarillo Sod Poodles on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Jared Kollar (2-1, 4.62) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Left-hander Yu-Min Lin (3-1, 5.12). Sunday's first pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.

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