Shut Down & Shut Out; Missions Win, 2-0

San Antonio Missions 2, RockHounds 0

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Nelson Wolff Stadium San Antonio, Texas

Aaron Leasher and two relievers combined on a two-hitter Saturday night as the San Antonio Missions shut out the RockHounds, 2-0, at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

Leasher (see “Kibbles & Bits,” below) was outstanding, allowing just one hit and one walk (while striking out four) over six innings. Nick Kuzia tossed two perfect innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced, and Jose Quezada closed the door in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

The game was scoreless entering the last of the fifth when Juan Fernandez tripled to center field with one out. Brad Zunica followed with an RBI double to right and the Missions had all the offense they would need.

Jack Suwinksi added an insurance run in the last of the eighth inning with a solo home run (his eighth of the season) off reliever Aaron Brown.

Bryce Conley took the tough loss, allowing one run over five innings, with four walks and four strikeouts. He gave up just two hits, but they were the back-to-back run-producing swings from Fernandez and Zunica.

San Antonio has now clinched the (six-game) series, taking four of the first five games entering Sunday afternoon’s finale (2:00).

The Missions (19-16) also took over second place in Double-A Central South Division, one game ahead of the RockHounds (18-17).

The ‘Hounds, after winning seven straight during the recent homestand, have dropped 6-of-their-last-7.

Kibbles & Bits

In his June 1 start at Springfield against the Cardinals, Aaron Leasher didn’t get out of the first inning, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning. He also started the last game of that series (June 6) and tossed five scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out a half-dozen Springfield batters. He then threw six shutout innings Saturday night against the RockHounds, giving him 11 consecutive scoreless frames after not surviving the first inning in his previous start.

Next Game

Sunday, June 13 vs. San Antonio Missions

Nelson Wolff Stadium San Antonio, Texas

First pitch 2:05 p.m.

• Final of a six-game series and sixth of a 12-game road trip

Probable Starters

SA: Russ Knehr (RH, 4-1, 3.79)

RH: Kyle Friedrichs (RH, 0-1, 6.35)

Next at Rocky Town

The RockHounds return home Tuesday, June 22, to host the Wichita Wind Surge (AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) in a six-game homestand at Momentum Bank Ballpark (Tuesday-Sunday, June 22-27).