TL1 San Antonio Missions

Needy's Complete-Game Effort Sparks Missions in Opener

Published on July 19, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


San Antonio opened its four-game series against Frisco at Wolff Stadium Sunday with a 9-1 win backed by some late offense and a complete-game masterpiece by right-hander James Needy.

Sunday's opener featured a terrific pitchers' duel between Needy and Frisco's Chad Bell.

The Missions scored the only run during the early innings courtesy of a Duanel Jones one-out homer in the second. For Jones, it was his fourth homer of the season and his second at the Wolff.

Needy kept the 1-0 lead through six, with a two-out Trever Adams single in the second serving as the only hit he allowed. In the top of the seventh, the RoughRiders finally broke through on Needy, tying the game on an Adams double down the left-field line.

After allowing the Jones homer in the second, Bell did not allow another hit until the seventh, an inning that began with a Hunter Renfroe walk. Yeison Asencio quickly moved Renfroe to third when he followed with a ground-rule double to straightaway center. After Bell intentionally walked Jones to load the bases, he seemed headed towards escaping the major jam by striking out both Griff Erickson and Kyle Gaedele. However, Bell (3-10) caught a tough break when next batter Jose Rondon bounced a ball to Adams at third. Adams throw to first sailed wide, allowing both Renfroe and Asencio to score. Diego Goris kept the inning alive by drawing a walk, which ended the night for Bell. That brought up Luis Domoromo, who made the score 5-1with a two-run single off Lendy Castillo.

San Antonio put the game away in the eighth with another four-spot, highlighted by a two-run homer by Renfroe off Castillo.

Needy (3-0) took care of the rest of the game, striking out seven in an impressive two-hit gem. It was the second career, nine-inning complete game for Needy and the first for San Antonio since Jeremy Hefner on June 14, 2010 at Corpus Christi.

San Antonio (10-13, 41-52) resumes its four-game series with Frisco (13-9, 42-50) Monday at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Dennis O'Grady (3-2, 4.17) will take the hill for the Missions, while the 'Riders counter with southpaw Victor Payano (3-2, 5.13).

Notes: Needy's other complete game came with Fort Wayne on August 29, 2012 vs. Western Michigan.

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Texas League Stories from July 19, 2015


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