Offense Continues to Lead Missions

FRISCO--The top three hitters in the Missions lineup combined for six hits, four runs, and 4 RBI in an 8-6 win Friday night, the club's fifth straight victory.

The offensive barrage offset a shaky outing by Mission left-hander Eric Lauer, who was making his third Double-A start.

The former first-round pick struggled to hit his spots most of the night and had an ineffective curve ball, as he surrendered five runs and nine hits over 5.2 innings, which included a pair of sixth inning homers.

It was the first time in 25 career starts that Lauer allowed two homeruns in a game. The five runs were the second most he's ever allowed.

Mission starters had surrendered only two earned runs over 25 innings in the team's four previous games

Nick Torres extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games with a solo homerun to right field in the second inning.

The Missions have raised their July team batting average from .217 to .252 over the first three games of this series, collecting 40 hits while scoring 19 runs. They had scored just 28 runs over the first 10 games of the month.

Julio Urías and Ty France continued their resurgence at the plate after lengthy slumps.

Urias is 7-for-12 in the series with 3 RBI and has reached base in 10 of 15 plate appearances. France is 7-for-12, matching his hit total for his previous 65 at-bats.

NOTES: The Missions are on pace to win 85 games. San Antonio clubs have won 80 or more seven times since 1950. The last three Mission teams to do so all captured Texas League championships.

NEXT: RH Cal Quantrill (Double-A debut) vs. RH Pedro Payano (1-2, 4.25) 7:05 PM

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