Missions clinch first title since '03

The San Antonio Missions clinched their first division title in four years Friday as Brett Dowdy singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to defeat the Midland RockHounds, 5-4.

Colt Morton drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, moved up on a groundout by Tim Brown and took third when Luis Cruz reached on an infield hit. Dowdy followed with a single to right field to snap a 4-4 tie.

The Missions (40-26) had tied the game an inning earlier, when Nick Hundley singled home Matt Antonelli. Morton and Cruz each plated a run in the second, when San Antonio knotted the game at 2-2.

The win locked up the Texas League South Division second-half title, the Missions' first since 2003.

"To go from 31-39 in the first half to this point is a pretty strong statement," manager Randy Ready told the San Antonio Express-News. "We stayed healthy enough and we got enough help from some new guys, and the pitching was just super."

Arturo Lopez (2-2) picked up the win, despite allowing one run on a hit and two walks over two innings. Neil Jamison struck out two in the ninth for his 12th save after starter Michael Ekstrom fanned eight, walked one and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings.

RockHounds reliever Mike Bumatay (3-1) was tagged for one run on two hits in the eighth to suffer his first loss. Midland starter Bobby Cramer struck out three, walked one and allowed three runs on eight hits over six frames.

Vince Faison drilled an RBI double and Jeff Baisley scored on a grounder in the second to give Midland (24-42) a 2-0 lead. Myron Leslie and Brant Colamarino added RBI singles.