Nick Torres' walk-off single in the bottom of the 16th lifted San Antonio to a 4-3, series-clinching win over Frisco Sunday afternoon at Wolff Stadium.Much earlier in the day the Missions looked well on their way to an ordinary win. Both starters were sharp throughout Sunday with San Antonio's Bryan
Nick Torres' walk-off single in the bottom of the 16th lifted San Antonio to a 4-3, series-clinching win over Frisco Sunday afternoon at Wolff Stadium.
Much earlier in the day the Missions looked well on their way to an ordinary win. Both starters were sharp throughout Sunday with San Antonio's Bryan Rodriguez and Frisco's Connor Sadzeck matching zeroes through four.
Sadzeck would make the game's first mistake in the fifth and it was a big one. The Missions began the frame with consecutive singles from Alberth Martinez and Ty France. After Sadzeck fanned River Stevens for the first out, A.J. Kennedy put San Antonio up three when he deposited the right-hander's 0-1 pitch onto the berm in left. It was just the second career homer for Kennedy, who added a double later in the game.
Rodriguez allowed just four hits and one walk, while striking out a pair over six impressive scoreless innings. Jake Smith followed with a perfect seventh, but in the eighth, the 'Riders stunned the home crowd with a game-tying, three-run rally off relievers Adam Cimber and Trey Wingenter. The big blow of the inning was Jose Trevino's two-RBI single to right off Wingenter, who had just replaced Cimber with the bases loaded.
The game then morphed into a battle of bullpens. Righties T.J. Weir, Eric Yardley and César Vargas kept the 'Riders off the board for seven innings as the game moved deep into extras.
Not wanting to burn the pen, Frisco opted for catcher Kevin Torres to take the ball. Torres (0-1) responded by keeping the game alive for three more innings. San Antonio opted to go the position player route as well in the top of the 16th, calling on France (1-0), who set Frisco down in order.
Finally in the bottom half of the inning, the Missions finally got to the catcher. Noah Perio led off the frame with a ground rule double to right. After Franmil Reyes was intentionally walked, Torres stroked a ball into center that scored Perio and ended a game of four-hours, eight minutes. The win, coupled with Midland's loss at Corpus Christi, moved San Antonio into sole possession of first place in the South Division.
San Antonio (21-15) resumes its homestand Monday at 7:05 PM with the first of four against I-37 rival Corpus Christi (17-19). Michael Kelly (1-1, 3.93) will take the hill for the Missions in the series opener, while the Hooks counter with fellow righty Brock Dykxhoorn (0-2, 7.23). Mondays are H-E-B Family Nights at Wolff Stadium. Fans can purchase four box seat tickets for just $24 at the Missions' box office with a receipt from H-E-B
