Missions Lose Heartbreaker in Ninth, Down 2-0 in Series
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The San Antonio Missions needed a victory to even up the Texas League Championship on Wednesday.
Up by a run in the ninth inning, the team had their chance. Andres Munoz has a rough night though, as they Missions let a win slip away from them.
This game should have been a victory for San Antonio, but now the team must play from behind and win three in a row to complete their goal of a championship. They will have the advantage of playing at home in the next three potential games.
As for the game on Wednesday, a late lineup change took Matt Batten from the bottom of the order to the leadoff position. Buddy Reed was initially in the lineup, but was replaced late by Taylor Kohlwey. Nothing reported on Reed as this was just apparently a managers decision.
San Antonio got the scoring off early in Oklahoma, as Batten walked to start the game and scored on a double by Josh Naylor. The Missions were off to a quick 1-0 lead, but were unable to hold it as last nights hero, Keibert Ruiz homered with two outs in the inning to even the score at one. In the 2nd, the Drillers took a 2-1 lead on a sac-fly.
Oklahoma had issues with the defense in the game, as two errors in the 3rd gave San Antonio another lead. With the score 3-2 Missions in the 4th, San Antonio added on two more runs on a base hit my Mathew Batten and a double by Owen Miller.
The 5-2 Missions’ lead did not last long as Emmanuel Ramirez was knocked out in the bottom of the 5th inning. He allowed a one-out single to score two runs. His night was over as Lake Bachar came in to relieve the right handed pitcher. Bachar was able to get the last two outs of the inning, protecting the Missions 5-4 lead.
The game stayed that way all the way until the 9th inning.
The crowd in Oklahoma was in for a treat as their home town Drillers rallied. Andres Munoz came on for the save, but was ineffective. The power pitcher walked the first two batters and gave up a single to Keibert Ruiz to tie the game. Ruiz has killed the Missions all season and wasted no time in jumping on the first pitch with a runner on second base. Munoz then proceeded to strike the next two batters out with his triple-digit heater.
With a two outs and a base open, Munoz walked Zach Reks who was 0-for-the whole series. That was the final straw, as Munoz was pulled from the game and replaced by Dauris Valdez. A puzzling move, as Valdez has control issues and barely got his feet wet this series at the Double-A level. Valdez, with the bases loaded threw his second pitch of the night to the backstop and that was it for the Missions.
Josh Naylor- (3-4) 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Matthew Batten- (1-4) 3 Runs, RBI, BB, K
Owen Miller– (3-5) 2B, Run, RBI, 2 K
Emmanuel Ramirez– 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (89 pitches- 58 strikes)
Andres Munoz- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K (32 pitches- 16 strikes)
The team is now down 0-2 in the series as they head home to play Friday at 5:05 PM
Jesse Scholtens will be on the mound for San Antonio.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.