TL1 San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions Game Notes: July 6 vs. Springfield (6:05 PM CST)

Published on July 6, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Tonight is the middle game of a three-game series between the San Antonio Missions and the Springfield Cardinals at Wolff Stadium. This will be the final regular season series between the clubs in 2014, with the Missions winning six of the previous 10 meetings. San Antonio (46-40, 10-6) is currently first in the South Division second- half standings, 1.5 games ahead of both first-half champ Frisco (48-36, 8-7) and Midland (46-39, 8-7). Since the beginning of May, the Missions own the Texas League's best record at 36-25. San Antonio enters play having won seven of their last 10. Springfield (40-46, 6-10), which snapped a six-game losing skid last night, is currently 4th in the North Division, second- half standings, two games behind both Arkansas (42-44, 8-8) and Northwest Arkansas (33-53, 8-8)..

PITCHING MATCHUP: On the hill for San Antonio this evening is right-hander Justin Hancock, who will be making his first start for the club since April 18 at Midland. The Defiance, OH native had been on the disabled list with a strained flexor muscle in his pitching arm. Hancock, who is expected to go three innings tonight, pitched in two rehab games for the AZL Padres (0 ER/3 IP) before rejoining the Missions. In his three starts for San Antonio earlier this season, Hancock was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He faced Springfield on April 12 at the Wolff, where he picked up his first Double-A win after allowing just two runs on six hits and no walks, while fanning five over a season-high six innings. San Diego selected Justin in 9th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, IL. In 26 starts last season between Class A Fort Wayne and High-A Lake Elsinore, Hancock went 8-8 with a 3.38 ERA. Hancock's mound opponent this evening will be fellow righty Sam Gaviglio, who is 3-9 with a 5.36 ERA in 16 starts. Gaviglio has lost both of his starts this season against San Antonio, allowing seven runs on seven hits and six walks, while striking out 13 over 10.1 total innings. The Ashland, OR native has pitched better of late however, finishing June with a 3.30 ERA over five starts. St. Louis selected Sam in the 5th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Oregon State University.

LAST GAME: San Antonio managed just six hits in a 2-1 loss to Springfield Saturday night at Wolff Stadium. Offense was at a premium Saturday, with the Cardinals scoring the game's only run (Matt Williams' RBI single in 3rd ) over the first five innings. In the top of the sixth, Springfield pushed their lead to two on San Antonio starter Bryce Morrow courtesy of Starlin Rodriguez's sacrifice fly to right. The Missions finally got on the board against Cards' starter Kyle Hald in their half of the frame on an Adam Buschini RBI ground out. It would be the only run charged to Hald (7-2), who scattered six hits and one walk, while fanning five over seven innings. Cards' lefty Justin Wright put up zeroes in both the eighth and ninth to earn his fifth save of the season. The victory put an end to Springfield's six-game losing skid. Morrow (1-2) was the hard-luck loser despite allowing just one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out a pair over a career-high, tying seven innings.

SIGNS OF LIFE: Though their bats were quiet last night, San Antonio's offense has seen a noticeable improvement of late. Since June 29, the Missions are hitting .308 (74-for-240), which is the second-best mark at the Double-A level: Birmingham (CWS) is batting .320 during that stretch. San Antonio is also T-2nd with Altoona for the most total bases (115) at the Double-A level during that same time period.

HOMER HAPPY: San Antonio has hit 62 home runs in their last 63 games after hitting just 12 in their first 23 contests. Since April 29 (start of 63-game run), the Missions are in a three-way tie for 1st in Double-A in homers, in addition to being T-13th in all of MiLB. San Antonio has hit 74 homers in 2014, which is tied with Bowie (BAL) and Harrisburg (WAS) for the 2nd most at the Double-A level. The Missions have out-homered their opponents by 30 (74-44) this season and have a 31-16 edge at the Wolff.

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 21 games, the Missions have pitched to a full-season MiLB best 2.07 ERA. During that stretch, San Antonio pitching has allowed just 161 hits (only eight homers) in 196 innings to go along with a K:BB ratio of 186:63. The 45 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 21 games, the starters have pitched to a minuscule 1.51 ERA (22 ER) and have a K:BB ratio of 100:33 over 131 innings. Since June 12, the Missions have three starters in the TL's top 4 in ERA: Josh Geer 2nd at 1.04, Morrow 3rd at 1.41 and James Needy 4th at 1.42.

WEEKEND WOES: For whatever reason, the Missions have struggled during their weekend games this season. In their games played from Friday-Sunday, San Antonio is just 17-23. On the other four nights of the week the Missions are 29-17.

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