TL1 San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 2 vs. Tulsa (7:05 PM CST)

Published on July 2, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Tonight is the opener of a three-game series between the San Antonio Missions and the Tulsa Drillers at Wolff Stadium. This will be the final regular season series between the clubs in the Alamo City this season, with the Drillers having taken two of three from the Missions at the Wolff in April. San Antonio (44-38, 8-4) is currently first in the South Division second-half standings, 2.5 games ahead of both Frisco (45-35, 5-6) and Midland (43-38, 5-6). Since the beginning of May, the Missions own the Texas League's best record at 34-23. Tulsa (44-37, 6-6), which has won the North's first-half title in each of the last three seasons, enters play tied for second in the second-half race, two games back of Arkansas (42-40, 8-4). The Drillers own a TL-best road record of 25-15.

PITCHING MATCHUP: On the hill for San Antonio in tonight's series opener is Josh Geer, who will be making his 17th start of the season. After a terrific beginning to his 2014 season, Geer suffered through a rough seven-start stretch (May 6- June 10), during which he went 1-3 with a league-worst 6.31 ERA (25 ER/35.2 IP). The veteran right hander has returned to form over his last three outings, allowing just two earned runs on 16 hits and two walks, while striking out 13 over 20 innings (each start he's gone at least six). During that stretch, Geer is T-1st in the TL in innings, 3rd in ERA at 0.90 and 6th in WHIP at 0.90. In 16 starts this season, the former Rice University star is 4-7 with a 3.63 ERA and a K:BB ratio of 52:16 over 91.2 innings. He enters tonight's start 1st in the TL in lowest BB-IBB/9 IP ratio at 1.57 and 3rd in innings. Geer's mound opponent this evening is fellow righty Richard Castillo, who was tagged for a season-high eight runs on a season-high, tying 10 hits in a loss vs. San Antonio on June 26 at ONEOK Field. Heading into that start, Castillo was 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) against the Missions. For the season, Castillo is 2-7 with a 5.09 ERA in 14 starts. In his five starts in June, Castillo was 0-4 with a league-worst 7.67 ERA. Opponents batted .321 against Castillo in June.

LAST GAMES: San Antonio padded their South Division, second-half lead with a doubleheader sweep of Springfield Monday night in front of 4,327 at Hammons Field. Cody Overbeck belted two of the Missions' season-high, tying four homers in the first game, including a go-ahead solo shot in the top of the 10th . Frank Garces (7th save) worked around a two- out walk in the bottom of the 10th to complete San Antonio's 7-6 win. The Missions needed just seven innings in the nightcap as Rob Kral's bases-clearing double in the sixth powered the team to a 6-3 win. Bryce Morrow picked up his first Double-A win with six innings of two-run, five-hit ball. Adam Buschini was the star of the series for San Antonio, slugging three homers and driving in six runs. The Missions finished the road trip 5-1, their most successful mark of the season.

2014 SEASON SERIES: San Antonio has won five of the first nine games against Tulsa this season despite hitting .205 (65-for-317) as a team. Runs have been at a premium in the season series, with the teams combining for just 49 (5.4 RPG) over the nine matchups. San Antonio hurlers have pitched to a 2.28 ERA to go along with a K:BB ratio of 80:23 over 87 innings.

SPANGE RETURNS: The Missions will receive a big boost to their lineup tonight with the return of Cory Spangenberg. The 23-year-old infielder had been on the DL with a concussion since April 18. The head injury occurred on a stolen base attempt in April 15's game vs. Tulsa. In 12 games this season with San Antonio, Spangenberg was hitting .271 (13-for-48) with two doubles, a triple, four RBI, six runs and three steals. The Clarks Summit, PA native was 6-for-31 (.194) in eight rehab games between the AZL Padres and Short-Season Eugene. Spangenberg entered 2014 as the No. 11 prospect in the San Diego system according to Baseball America. To make room for Cory on the San Antonio roster, LHP Jeffery Enloe was transferred to Class A Fort Wayne.

HOMER HAPPY: San Antonio has hit 60 home runs in their last 59 games after hitting just 12 in their first 23 contests. Since April 29 (start of 59-game run), the Missions are 1st in Double-A in homers, in addition to being T-13th in all of MiLB. San Antonio has hit 72 homers in 2014, which is the most at the Double-A level.

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT: After allowing a total of 50 runs in an eight-game span from June 4-11, San Antonio pitching has certainly returned to form. In their last 17 games, the Missions have pitched to a MiLB best 1.92 ERA. During that stretch, San Antonio pitching has allowed just 121 hits (only eight homers) in 159 innings to go along with a K:BB ratio of 151:46. The 34 earned runs allowed since June 12 are the fewest among full-season MiLB squads.

STARTING WELL: The main reason that the Missions have turned it around on the hill as been the dominant stretch their starting staff has been on. During the last 17 games, the starters have pitched to a minuscule 1.52 ERA (18 ER) and have a K:BB ratio of 82:25 over 106.2 innings. A San Antonio starter has had at least five strikeouts in nine of the 17 games. Since June 12, the Missions have three starters in the TL's top 8 in ERA: Geer T-2nd at 0.90, James Needy 4th at 1.08 and Morrow 8th at 1.44.

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