TL San Antonio Missions

Missions Mash Season-High Five Homers in Thursday Night Victory

August 31, 2023 - Texas League (TL)
San Antonio Missions News Release


San Antonio Missions' Marcos Castañon at bat
San Antonio Missions' Marcos Castañon at bat
(San Antonio Missions)

SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Missions continued their six-game series with the Wichita Wind Surge on Thursday night. The Missions offense flexed their muscles on Thursday and came out on top of the Home Run Derby in Wichita. Both clubs combined for eight home runs with the Missions setting a new season-high with five long balls. Wichita attempted a late comeback, but the Missions held on for an 8-6 win.

Carlos Luna was the starting pitcher for the Wind Surge. It did not take long for the Missions to grab the lead. Jakob Marsee, the first batter of the night, hit a solo home run over the right field fence. His second long ball in the Texas League made it an early 1-0 Missions lead.

Adam Mazur was the starting pitcher for the Missions. After a scoreless first inning, the young right-hander allowed a run in the second inning. With one man down, Tanner Schobel left the yard for a solo home run. His second long ball of the year tied the game at one.

Wichita put two runners on base in the bottom of the third inning. Seth Gray started the frame with a base hit. Mazur struck out the next batter before giving up a single to Yoyner Fajardo. Michael Helman grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Missions utilized the long ball once again in the fourth inning. With one out in the frame, Nathan Martorella singled to right field. Marcos Castanon drove a ball over the center field wall for a two-run home run. His second dinger with the Missions gave them a 3-1 lead.

Wichita found themselves with another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning. After retiring the first batter, Mazur allowed a double to Patrick Winkel. The right-hander induced back-to-back fly outs to end the scoring threat.

The Missions hit two more long balls in the top of the sixth inning. On the first pitch of the inning, Jackson Merrill crushed a fly ball to right field. Two pitches later, Graham Pauley made it back-to-back homers. San Antonio extended their lead to 5-1.

The Wind Surge plated their second run of the night in the bottom of the sixth inning. Helman began the frame with a double. After striking out the next batter, Mazur allowed an RBI single to Winkel. The Missions had a 5-2 lead.

Mazur recorded his second consecutive quality after holding Wichita to two runs in six innings of work. The #7 Padres prospect struck out five batters while issuing one walk. Jason Blanchard assumed pitching duties in the seventh inning.

The southpaw allowed a run to the Wind Surge in the bottom of the seventh inning. Facing Alerick Soularie, he took Blanchard deep for a solo home run. His ninth long ball of the year made it a 5-3 ballgame.

A season-best fifth home run was hit by the Missions in the eighth inning. With two outs in the frame, Alex Scherff took over on the mound for Curtis Taylor. He allowed back-to-back singles to Castanon and Michael De La Cruz. Cole Cummings lifted a fly ball over the right field wall for a three-run homer. His seventh long ball of the season made it an 8-3 game.

Justin Lopez pitched the eighth inning for San Antonio. The right-hander allowed Wichita to score three runs on two hits. Willie Joe Garry Jr. doubled to start the frame and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alex Isola drew a walk to put two runners on base. Garry Jr. came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Winkel. Lopez struck out Schobel for the second out. Aaron Sabato crushed a two-run home run to left field to cut the deficit to 8-6.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Daniel Camaren took the mound for the save attempt. The veteran southpaw retired all three batters while striking out two of them. Camarena converted his third career save.

Post-Game Notes

* Final Score: 8-6

* 8 combined home runs (5 for Missions)

* Most homers in one game by the Missions this season (Most since 5/3/22)

* With the win, San Antonio improves to 27-27 & 64-59 on the season

* Merrill/Pauley: Back-to-back HR in the 6th inning (4th time for Missions in 2023)

* Camarena: 3rd career save

* Adam Mazur (Missions starter): W, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, HR

* Back-to-back quality starts for Mazur

* Carlos Luna (Wind Surge starter): L, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 6 K, 4 HR

Prospect Recap

* Ethan Salas (#1 Padres prospect, #5 MLB): DNP

* Jackson Merrill (#2 Padres prospect, #9 MLB): 1-5, HR, RBI, R

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

* Jairo Iriarte (#6 Padres prospect): Scheduled to pitch Saturday, September 2nd

* Adam Mazur (#7 Padres prospect): W, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, HR

* Nathan Martorella (#10 Padres prospect): 1-4, R, 3 K

* Graham Pauley (#11 Padres prospect): 1-5, HR, RBI, R

* Jakob Marsee (#12 Padres prospect): 2-5, HR, RBI, R

* Ryan Bergert (#16 Padres prospect): Scheduled to pitch Friday, September 1st

* Marcos Castañon (#23 Padres prospect): 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

* Marco Raya (#4 Twins prospect): Scheduled to pitch Friday, September 1st

* Tanner Schobel (#7 Twins prospect): 1-4, HR, RBI, R, K

The San Antonio Missions will continue their six-game series with the Wichita Wind Surge on Friday, September 1st. Right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-2, 2.45) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Right-hander Marco Raya (0-3, 8.66) is scheduled to pitch for the Wind Surge. Friday's first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.





Images from this story

San Antonio Missions' Marcos Castañon at bat
San Antonio Missions' Marcos Castañon at bat

  



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