Fillmyer shines as 'Hounds halt four-game skid

An annual tradition at the ballpark in San Antonio is "used car night," in which a handful of fans actually win a used car (a little more difficult souvenir to take home than, say, cap night). We doubt any of the RockHounds won a vehicle, but they did take home a "donut" in the form of a 6-0 win over the San Antonio Missions behind a brilliant performance from Heath Fillmyer. Oakland's #15 prospect combined with Sam Bragg on a four-hit shutout of the South Division first half champion Missions on Friday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

Fillmyer pitched into the eighth inning, allowing just three hits (one of them a bad-hop single), walking two and striking out seven, in a performance that came in a game much closer than the final score would indicate. The 'Hounds led by just a 1-0 margin entering the seventh inning, but would score once in the stretch inning and four times in the eighth, highlighted by Viosergy Rosa's two-run double, who now has five RBI in the first two games of the series.
Fillmyer walked the first two batters he faced, but came back to strike out a very tough hitter in Ty France, with Franmil Reyes - who had gone 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI on Thursday night - then grounding into an inning-ending double play in the first. Alberth Martinez led off the Missions second with a double, but Fillmyer retired the next three batters, with Jordan Tarsovich handling a tough chance at third base to end the inning. 
Enyel De Los Santos was outstanding for San Antonio. The right-hander - who entered the game with a 2.50 earned run average against the rest of the Texas League and a 15.15 ERA in four starts against the 'Hounds - allowed just two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out six, over 6.2 innings in a quality start.
Tarsovich doubled against De Los Santos to open the third and scored when Missions third baseman France's throw sailed wide on a sacrifice bunt by Brett Vertigan. With the score still 1-0 in the seventh, Beau Taylor led off the inning with a double off De Los Santos and scored the game's second run on Vertigan's single to right.
Quick Notes
With their fourth shutout of the season, the RockHounds snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the first time in the second half.
In his last three starts, Heath Fillmyer is 2-0, with a 0.47 ERA. He has gone a combined 19 innings, allowing one earned run on 10 hits, walking 10 and striking out 17 in those three outings. The last two starts have both come on the current road trip, which is significant as Fillmyer entered Friday's start at San Antonio with a 1.65 ERA at Security Bank Ballpark and 5.02 on the road.
With the bullpen a bit more short-handed, Fillmyer's 7.1 inning performance was even more important (and impressive). He threw 40 pitches over his first two innings, then just 60 more over the next 5.1, finishing at exactly 100 pitches.
He may have been playing a new position, but Yairo Muñoz was still feeling "at home" at the dish, going 2-for-4 (run, double, hit by pitch) and has now a hit in 18 of his last 19 games (23-for-67, .343). Munoz is also hitting .354 over his last 38 games since May 16, with 23 extra-base hits (14 doubles, three triples and six home runs) with 26 RBI in the 38 games. He was caught trying to steal a base on Friday for the first time in 13 attempts in 2017.
Max Schrock went hitless for just the second time in 15 games (he did reach base with a walk). Despite the 0-for-4, Schrock is hitting exactly .400 over those 15 games.
Pitcher Ben Bracewell has been promoted to Triple-A Nashville. A key member of the 2016 Texas League championship club (2.14 ERA in 29 games), Bracewell was 2-1, with a 6.30 ERA with the RockHounds in 15 games (eight starts) this season. The non-drafted free agent out of Mississippi State University is making his first trip to the Triple-A level. His promotion leaves the RockHounds roster at just 22 (three below the limit).
On-the-Job Training
Munoz played centerfield Friday night, the first time he has played any outfield position as a professional and Brett Vertigan played first base for just the seventh time in his pro career and the first time since 2014 when he played the position in six games with Short-Season A Vermont. Munoz did not have a ball hit his way, while Vertigan was perfect in 10 chances (nine putouts and one assist) at first.
On Deck
The RockHounds and Missions continue their four-game series at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Saturday, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. 
The series wraps up Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m.
Following Sunday's game is the Texas League All-Star break (June 26-28) with the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Frisco.
Saturday's third game of the series offers a terrific pitching match-up. RHP Chris Huffman (2-1, 2.18) will be on the mound for the Missions and LHP A.J. Puk (0-1, 3.86) will make his second start for the RockHounds since being promoted from Stockton of the Class-A Advanced California League. Puk made his Double-A debut last Monday night at Frisco in a 3-1 loss to the RoughRiders. He went seven innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, two walks and two hit batsmen while striking out seven.