Despite Late Rally, Missions Lose Heartbreaker to Amarillo 5-4
AMARILLO (JULY 28, 2026) — The San Antonio Missions overcame a 3-1 deficit in the ninth inning, but the Amarillo Sod Poodles walked off for a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night at Hodgetown. In his second Double-A start, Jamie Hitt worked through six innings and picked up a quality start.
AMARILLO (JULY 28, 2026) — The San Antonio Missions overcame a 3-1 deficit in the ninth inning, but the Amarillo Sod Poodles walked off for a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night at Hodgetown.
In his second Double-A start, Jamie Hitt worked through six innings and picked up a quality start. He allowed three runs on nine hits, inducing two inning-ending double plays and throwing just 74 pitches.
The Missions took the lead in the second on a solo home run by Albert Fabian, his seventh of the season.
After threatening early, Amarillo finally found a way through against Hitt. Jean Walters and Junior Franco provided consecutive two-out RBI singles, putting the Sod Poodles in front 2-1.
Ben McLaughlin ripped a solo home run to center in the sixth, giving Amarillo a 3-1 advantage.
That scoreline stood until the top of the ninth, when the Missions put together a furious rally. Jake Cunningham singled to lead off the inning. Ryan Jackson then put runners at first and second with an opposite-field single to right. Two batters later, Francisco Acuña came up with two outs in the inning. He launched a three-run homer to left, giving the Missions a 4-3 lead in dramatic fashion.
It didn’t last long, however, as Amarillo responded with two runs in the ninth to win it 5-4. Walters drew a walk and reached second on a balk. Franco then doubled him home to tie the game. After a Trent Youngblood sacrifice bunt moved Franco to third, a Druw Jones infield single allowed Franco to score the winning run.