TL1 San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions Game Notes: June 26 at Tulsa (7:05 PM CST)

Published on June 26, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Tonight is game two of a three-game series between the San Antonio Missions and the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field. The Missions have taken four of their first seven meetings with the Drillers this season despite averaging just 2.4 RPG (17) and hitting a collective .189 (44-for-233). San Antonio (40-37, 3-3) currently sits second in the South Division second-half standings, 1.5 games behind Midland (43-33, 5-1). Since the beginning of May, the Missions own the Texas League's second-best record at 30-22 (Tulsa: 29-21). The first-half, North Division champion Drillers enter play having lost six of their last 10 games. Tulsa enters Thursday's contest with a 16-20 record at ONEOK Field this season.

Ironically, all four teams in the North Division have sub .500 home records in 2014. Only Arkansas has a winning record at home in the second half (3-1).

PITCHING MATCHUP: On the hill for San Antonio tonight is veteran right-hander Josh Geer, who will be making his team-leading 16th 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 former Rice University has returned to form over his last two outings, allowing just one earned run on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out nine over 14 innings (each time he's gone seven). In his last start on June 20 vs. Midland, Geer fanned a season-high six batters, throwing 74 of his 103 pitches for strikes. For the season, Geer is 3-7 with a 3.78 ERA and a K:BB ratio of 48:15 in 85.2 innings. Geer enters tonight's start with the lowest BB-IBB/9 IP ratio in the TL at 1.58 (15), while ranking fourth in innings pitched. His mound opponent tonight is fellow righty Richard Castillo, who is 2-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 starts this season. Castillo faced the Missions in both of his first two outings of the season, allowing just three earned runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out five over 12 innings. The Barquisimeto, Venezuela native has had a rough June, going 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA through three starts. Walks have been a concern this season for Castillo, who has issued at least one free pass in all 13 starts, including two or more in seven different outings. However, Castillo is usually at his best against San Antonio, entering tonight's start 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 10 games (eight starts).

LAST GAME: A pinch-hit, RBI double by Reymond Fuentes in the top of the 10th gave San Antonio a 1-0 win over Tulsa Wednesday night at ONEOK Field. The teams combined to finish the game, 9-for-64 (.141), with just two extra-base hits.

Yeison Asencio and Jason Hagerty accounted for four of the Missions' five hits in the contest. Adys Portillo (1-3) earned the win in relief after a tossing a scoreless ninth. It was an encouraging outing for Portillo, who had been struggling in June after being named San Diego's Minor League Pitcher of the Month in May. Frank Garces worked a perfect 10th for his sixth save of the season.

FITTING IN WELL: Though he did not factor in the decision last night, San Antonio right-hander Bryce Morrow was once again terrific. The Grand Rapids, MI native allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out six over a career-high, tying seven shutout innings. In three starts at the Double-A level, Morrow is 0-1 with a minuscule 0.95 ERA and a K:BB ratio of 19:3 over 19 innings. Since his debut on June 14, Morrow is 1st in the TL in innings pitched, 2nd in strikeouts, 7th in WHIP at 0.84 and 9th in ERA.

RARE OCCURRENCES: Last night was just San Antonio's third extra-inning win (3-9) of the season and their first since April 29 (9-7 win vs. Frisco in 10). It was also just their 12th win this season when scoring three or less runs (12-28).

ANOTHER SHUTOUT: After not recording a shutout in their first 43 games of the season, San Antonio has now pitched nine over their last 34. The Missions are now tied with Mississippi (9-4) for the most shutouts at the Double-A level.

San Antonio has been involved in 18 shutout games this season, the most in the TL by two (Arkansas: 5-12).

HOMER HAPPY: The Missions have hit 52 home runs in their last 54 games after hitting just 12 in their first 23 contests. Since April 29 (start of 54-game run), San Antonio leads all of Double-A in homers and is tied for the 13th most in all of MiLB. San Antonio has hit 64 homers in 2014, which is tied with Binghamton for the second-most at the Double-A level (five behind Bowie).

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 12 games, the Missions have pitched to a 1.62 ERA, the second-lowest in all of MiLB (Midland: 1.37).

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 12 games, the starters have pitched to a minuscule 1.02 ERA (9 ER) and have a K:BB ratio of 64:18 over 79.2 innings. A San Antonio starter has had at least five strikeouts in eight of the 12 games.

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