Rodriguez's Homer Propels Missions to Sunday Night Victory
July 17, 2022 - Texas League (TL)
San Antonio Missions News Release
SAN ANTONIO - After a 7-6 loss on Saturday night, the Missions had a second chance at clinching the series victory. In a back-and-forth battle with the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Yorman Rodriguez hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give the Missions a 6-5 lead. With the win, San Antonio heads into the All-Star Break with a series victory against Amarillo.
It was a rematch of game one with Brandon Komar facing off against Bryce Jarvis. The Missions offense, as they have for most of this series, scored first in the top of the first inning. Connor Hollis started off the game with a base hit to center field. After a strikeout, Domingo Leyba scored Hollis with a double to left field. The Missions took a 1-0 lead.
Amarillo had a chance to tie the game in the bottom half of the first inning. With one out in the inning, Eduardo Diaz hit a single to left-center field and then stole second base. Komar responded by striking out Leandro Cedeno and getting Roby Enriquez to fly out.
The Sod Poodles gained the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Juan Centeno drew a lead-off walk and Tim Tawa reached base on a fielding error from Leyba. After retiring the next two batters, Komar loaded the bases after walking Drew Stankiewicz. Jorge Barrosa hit a single to right field which scored Centeno and Tawa. Stankiewicz tried to score on the play but was thrown out at home. Amarillo took a 2-1 lead.
The third inning saw the Missions regain the lead after scoring two runs on two hits. Ripken Reyes started off the inning with a double and Hollis was hit by a pitch. San Antonio loaded the bases after Thomas Milone laid down a bunt single. Reyes scored the tying run after Leyba hit a sacrifice fly. Hollis came around to score on a groundout from Yorman Rodriguez. The Missions took a 3-2 lead.
Amarillo tied the game in the bottom of the third inning and forced Komar out of the game. Diaz began the inning with a double to left field. After issuing a walk to Cedeno, Komar allowed an RBI single to Roby Enriquez. He then allowed a single to Juan Centeno and was replaced by Moises Lugo. With the bases loaded and no outs, Tawa hit a ground ball to third base and Hollis recorded the force out at home to get the lead runner for out number one. Lugo then recorded a line out and a fly out to end the scoring threat. It was a 3-3 ballgame.
The back-and-forth battle continued as the Missions took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Kelvin Melean reached base on a fielding error to begin the inning. He advanced to third base on a single from Reyes. Hollis drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center field. The Missions took a 4-3 lead.
The Missions added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. Facing Josh Green, Melean reached second base on a throwing error from Drew Stankiewicz. Reyes laid down a sacrifice bunt and advanced Melean to third base. Hollis drove in Melean with a single to left field. His third hit of the night improved their lead to 5-3.
The Sod Poodles continued their comeback attempt and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With Osvaldo Hernandez on the mound, Ti'Quan Forbes started off the inning with a base hit. Stankiewicz, the next batter, grounded into a double play. Hernandez issued a walk to Barrosa to keep the inning alive. The southpaw was replaced by Lake Bachar. After Barrosa stole second base, a wild pitch moved him to third base. He scored on an RBI double from Diaz. Diaz scored the tying run on an RBI single from Cedeno. It was a 5-5 ballgame.
San Antonio recaptured the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Facing Yorvin Pantoja, Rodriguez welcomed him to the game with a solo home run over the left field wall. His 10th long ball of the season gave the Missions a 6-5 lead.
After pitching a scoreless inning in the seventh, Fred Schlichtholz began the eighth inning for the Missions. After striking out the first batter of the inning, Angel Felipe came on to pitch for the Missions. The hard throwing right-hander walked the first two batters he faced. Felipe bounced back and struck out the last two batters of the inning to keep the one-run lead.
The right-hander allowed a lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. After striking out the next batter, Nick Dalesandro lined into a double play to end the inning. For Felipe, he converted his 10th save attempt this season.
Post-Game Notes
With the win, San Antonio improves to 46-39 (overall), 8-10 (2nd half) on the season
Kevin Kopps (#13 Padres prospect): DNP
Reggie Lawson (#16 Padres prospect): DNP
Tirso Ornelas (#22 Padres prospect): 0-3, BB, K
The San Antonio Missions will be off for the next four days due to the All-Star Break. They return to action on Friday, July 22nd for a three-game homestand against the Corpus Christi Hooks. The pitching matchups will be announced at a later date. First pitch for Friday's game is expected at 7:05 p.m. from Nelson Wolff Stadium.
Texas League Stories from July 17, 2022
- Riders Drop Series Finale to RockHounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- Rodriguez's Homer Propels Missions to Sunday Night Victory - San Antonio Missions
- Surge Sweep Travs as Encarnacion-Strand Hits for the Cycle - Wichita Wind Surge
- Wichita Offense Goes off in Sweep of Travs - Arkansas Travelers
- Bats Stay Hot, Pen Shines to Earn Series Win - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Naturals Can't Keep Pace with Hooks, Fall 12-7 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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