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TL1 San Antonio Missions

Missions score five in ninth, still fall to Frisco

August 29, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


The last time Frisco came to town, the Missions dropped the first two games of the series only to come roaring back and earn a split. There would be no such luck Friday night. The 'Riders scored early and often, and rode a dominant outing from starter Blake Beavan to a 9-5 victory and a 3-1 series win.

Beavan (4-4) cruised through seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out four to earn his second victory in three outings against the Missions. He is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in his three starts against the Missions this season.

The Frisco offense scored eight times through the first five innings to open up an 8-0 lead. Both Steve Murphy and Chris Gradoville, who came into the game batting .204 and .209 respectively, had three hits apiece to lead the 14-hit attack. Eight of the nine Frisco batters notched hits, with four logging multi-hit games.

The 'Riders got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Steve Murphy reached on a leadoff single and attempted to steal second base. Mitch Canham's throw appeared to beat Murphy easily to the bag, but he was ruled safe by third base umpire and crew chief Brian Sinclair. It was the second disputed stolen base call of the series, as Missions skipper Terry Kennedy came out to argue from the dugout to no avail. Renny Osuna grounded to second to move Murphy to third, and Gradoville followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.

Frisco added a pair in the third on a bases-loaded walk by Johnny Whittleman and a sacrifice fly by Murphy to push the lead to 3-0.

In the fourth, Gradoville, the back-up catcher, hit a fly ball just to the right of deep center field, that Cedric Hunter tracked on a dead run but could not reach, leaping in front of the wall. The ball took a sideways carom into the deepest part of the ballpark, toward the 402 mark in straightaway center. Luis Durango had not backed up the play from left field, and by the time he finally reached the ball, Gradoville was well around third. The relay throw was late and Gradoville crossed the plate with an inside-the-park home run, his first home run since August 15, 2008 when he was playing for Bakersfield of the California League.

Missions starter Corey Kluber was not sharp throughout his short start, lasting just 3.0+ innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks, striking out a pair. He could not follow up upon his second victory of the year in his last start. Kluber (2-3) continued to struggle with his control, and has now walked 31 in just 38.2 innings so far with the Missions.

"He just couldn't get ahead of guys," explained Kennedy. "All in all, it just wasn't a good game."

For the second time in the series, the Mission scored in the ninth to avoid a shutout. They entered the final frame trailing 9-0 before scoring five times to make the final score appear much closer than the game actually was. San Antonio sent 10 men to the plate in the inning, collecting five hits and two walks before Craig Cooper's line out to center with two aboard to end the game.

"There's really no pressure on you, down nine in the ninth," said Kennedy. "But I was happy for some guys to get some hits. We really didn't have any threats until then."

Anthony Contreras had the best offensive night for the Missions, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances. He finished 3-for-3 with a walk, three singles and an RBI, marking his third three-hit performance of the season.

W: Beavan (4-4); L: Kluber (2-3); S: Vaughn (7); HR: Gradoville (1)

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