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TL1 San Antonio Missions

San Antonio Missions Game Notes: May 14 vs. Corpus Christi (11:05 AM CST)

May 14, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release


TODAY'S GAME: Today is game three of a four-game series between the San Antonio Missions and the Corpus Christi Hooks. San Antonio (17-21) is currently last in the South Division, eight games behind first-place Frisco (25-13) and two behind third-place Corpus Christi (19-19). The Missions have been playing better of late, however, winning nine of their last 16 games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: On the hill for San Antonio this afternoon will be Casey Kelly, who will be making the first of at least two rehab starts with his former club. San Diego's No. 5 prospect entering 2014 (according to Baseball America) began his rehab assignment for High-A Lake Elsinore, where he allowed four runs on 14 hits and no walks, while striking out nine in 8.1 innings. Kelly was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (30th overall) of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Sarasota HS in Sarasota, FL. He was acquired by San Diego along with INF Antony Rizzo and OFs Reymond Fuentes and Eric Patterson in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez on December 6, 2010. Kelly was a key member of San Antonio's 2011 TL Championship squad, going 11-6 with a 3.98 ERA. In 2012, he made six starts for San Diego, winning his ML debut on August 27 vs. Atlanta after tossing six shutout innings. He missed all of the 2013 season due to Tommy John surgery. Kelly's mound opponent today will be lefty Colton Cain, who is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in five games (two starts) for the Hooks this season. The Waxahachie, TX native has a career minor league record of 20-22 with a 4.16 ERA.

LAST GAMES: Jake Lemmerman's first-inning grand slam highlighted San Antonio's 7-4 win over Corpus Christi in Tuesday night's regularly scheduled contest at Wolff Stadium. Hooks' starter Luis Cruz did not last long Tuesday, as the southpaw ran into immediate trouble when a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the first with just one out. Next batter Austin Hedges drew San Antonio's third straight free pass, which scored Casey McElroy with the game's first run. That set the stage for Lemmerman, who cleared the bases with a towering blast to left field. The grand slam, which ended Cruz's (3-4) night, came on the 14th pitch of the at-bat and followed eight straight foul balls. It was Lemmerman's first homer with the Missions, but not his first slam of 2014. On May 5, Lemmerman gave El Paso a 13-10 win over Sacramento with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. The five-run first was more than enough for spot starter Tim Sexton (1-0), who rejoined the club from Triple-A El Paso earlier in the day. The veteran right-hander, a valuable member of San Antonio's bullpen in 2013, allowed just four hits and two walks, while striking out five over five shutout frames. Lee Orr pushed the Missions' lead to 7-0 in the sixth with a two-run homer off reliever Alex Sogard. The dinger was Orr's fifth of the season and his third in his last eight games. The Hooks took advantage of Sexton's departure, tagging the bullpen for a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to cut their deficit to 7-4. Fortunately, for San Antonio, closer Johnny Barbato made sure the lead held up, retiring Corpus Christi in order in the ninth for his league-leading 11th save. Earlier in the night, the teams had to resume their suspended game from Monday with the score tied at five and one out in the top of the 10th. Both clubs failed to score in both the 10th and 11th innings, but the Hooks changed that in the top of the 12th against Missions' reliever Luis De La Cruz (0-3). After Delino DeShields popped out to first to open the frame, Nolan Fontana put Corpus Christi up for good when he took De La Cruz's 3-2 pitch over the wall in right. It was Fontana's first Double-A homer. Reliever Travis Ballew (3rd save) preserved the Hooks' 6-5 victory by tossing a perfect bottom of the 12th . The Missions had turned a 4-0 deficit into a 5-4 lead by scoring two in the seventh and another three in the eighth. However, Corpus Christi plated an unearned run in the top of the ninth off reliever Jerry Sullivan to extend the contest. Patrick Urckfitz (1-1) earned the win for the Hooks with two innings of scoreless relief. Corpus Christi got five shutout frames of one-hit ball from starter Michael Hauschild in his Double-A debut. Matt Branham pitched well in a spot start for the Missions, allowing three runs (just one earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking five over five innings. Earlier Tuesday, Branham was transferred to El Paso to make room for Sexton on the San Antonio roster. Hedges matched his career high with four hits in defeat, which included a pair of RBI.

POWER SURGE: The Missions have hit 16 home runs in their last 15 games, well surpassing their total (12) from their first 23 contests. Since April 29 (start of 15-game run), San Antonio is 3rd among all Double-A teams in homers, trailing only New Britain (18) and Altoona (17). Last night the Missions got their first grand slam of the season, while also adding Orr's two run dinger. Prior to last night's game, 19 of their first 26 homers this season had been solo shots.

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