TL1 San Antonio Missions

Missions Hand Hooks Free Pass

Published on August 5, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


Coming off a shutout, the Missions pitching staff looked as though it had regained the mid-season form that led the team to the first half Texas League title. But Tuesday night they reverted back to their wild ways that have seen them fall to last place in the South Division. The Missions never led, dropping an 8-3 decision to the Hooks in front of 3,003 to open a three-game set at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions dug themselves in an early hole, as the Hooks put up four runs in the top of the first. After a one-out double from Major League rehabber Darin Erstad, Drew Locke and Jason Castro both followed with walks to load the bases for Mark Ori, who hit a sacrifice fly, plating Erstad with the first run. It looked as though Kluber might be able to work out of further trouble, but Drew Meyer belted a pitch deep over the right field wall to make it 4-0.

Missions starter Corey Kluber (1-1) walked five batters for the third straight start, with three of the free passes scoring. He lasted just four innings, allowing six earned runs on four hits, striking out three.

"It's something that just can't happen," explained Missions manager Terry Kennedy. "He walked five against (Corpus Christi) last time too. He just didn't command his fastball."

The Missions struck back for a pair in the bottom half of the frame on four straight two-out singles from Lance Zawadzki, Craig Cooper, Mitch Canham and Logan Forsythe to cut the lead in half. But San Antonio would get no closer, as the Hooks added two more in the third and single runs in the seventh and eighth to put the game out of reach.

Meyer finished the night 2-for-4 with the home run, a run scored and a career-high five RBI. It was the second time in a week that a Hooks player drove in five runs against the Missions, as Drew Locke turned the trick last Wednesday in Corpus Christi's 8-1 win at Whataburger Field.

The Missions pitching staff set a season-high, walking 10 Hooks batters on the night. That broke their previous mark of nine free passes, set July 27th against Midland.

The two-through-four hitters in the Missions lineup combined to go 7-for-12 with two walks, with Cedric Hunter's three-hit night leading the charge.

"I'm happy for him," said Kennedy of his center fielder's success. "He's working on it, making the necessary adjustments."

But the seven-through-nine spots in the order combined to go 0-for-12. Mitch Canham made the last out in the third, fifth, seventh and ninth innings, leaving eight men on base by himself. The Missions stranded 11 runners in all, going just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Danny Meszaros and Charles Weatherby III combined for four shutout innings out of the 'pen to preserve the victory for Sergio Perez (8-9). Perez worked the first five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out four. He moves to 2-2 in five starts against the Missions in 2009.

W: Perez (8-9); L: Kluber (1-1); S: None; HR: Meyer (5)

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