Missions Roughed Up
August 2, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release
Over the course of a 140 game Texas League season, there will be swings in both directions. While the Missions have mostly enjoyed the perks of the up swings, they now find themselves mired in their worst stretch of the year as the season reaches its three-quarter mark. After a 10-3 loss to Frisco Saturday night at Wolff stadium, San Antonio fell to 14-21 in the second half of the season.
The Missions have lost four straight and nine of their last 10, and have also dropped six straight at home. That home slide is the longest since the Missions also dropped six straight August 1-7 last year, with four of those six coming against Frisco. That stretch started with a 7-4, 13-inning loss to the 'Riders.
"It's not like they're not trying," said Kennedy of his team. "I've been through this before. I lost 21 games in a row once to start a season," Kennedy admitted, referencing his 1988 Baltimore Orioles team that set a record by losing the first 21 games of the season.
Frisco opened the scoring in the second inning, as Chad Tracy blasted a booming shot to the far side of the berm leading off to make it 1-0. With one out, Adam Fox was hit by a pitch, and Steve Murphy followed with a second blast, this one to right field off the second wall under the scoreboard.
Starter Ernesto Frieri (8-7) lasted only the first two innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits and a walk, striking out one to take the loss. After giving up the two home runs in the second he was visibly upset as he walked back to the dugout. After the inning he was removed for disciplinary reasons.
The 'Riders stretched their lead with two more in the top of the sixth. After a Renny Osuna leadoff walk, Mitch Moreland singled and Tracy followed with an RBI double, scoring Osuna and moving Moreland to third. Johnny Whittleman popped to shallow left and Adam Fox grounded into a 6-2 fielder's choice, as Moreland was gunned down at the plate by Lance Zawadzki. The play allowed Tracy to get to third, however, and he scored on a wild pitch by Scott Rice to make it 5-1.
The Missions closed the gap to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth only to watch the 'Riders score four times on four hits, including two doubles and a triple, in the top of the seventh to blow the game open.
"The first time around these guys did well. Now the league has adjusted to them, and they have to adjust back," said Kennedy.
Frisco starter Michael Ballard (4-5) tossed 6.1 innings, yielding three runs, two earned, on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out five to earn the victory. The RoughRiders bullpen shut down the Missions over 2.2 innings, recording six of the final eight outs by strikeout.
Lance Zawadzki provided one of the lone bright spots for the Missions, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Luis Durango also pitched in a pair of hits, but the team combined for only six on the game.
All nine Frisco batters hit safely, with Majewski, Moreland, Fox and Tracy all logging multi-hit performances.
The only Missions pitcher who did not allow a run was utility man Anthony Contreras, who allowed one hit while striking out his first batter of the year in a scoreless ninth inning.
Eric Sogard left the game in the seventh inning after being hit in the hand by a pitch and was taken to the hospital for X-rays.
W: Ballard (4-5); L: Frieri (8-7); S: None; HR: Tracy (18), Murphy (6)
Texas League Stories from August 2, 2009
- Hounds Rip Hooks 13-5 - Corpus Christi Hooks
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- Cards Falter in Ninth - Springfield Cardinals
- Naturals Walk Their Way to Ninth-Inning Win - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Missions Roughed Up - San Antonio Missions
- Missions Game Notes for August 2 - San Antonio Missions
- Missions activate LHP Cory Luebke - San Antonio Missions
- Hooks No-Hit in Midland - Corpus Christi Hooks
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