Eight-Run 4th Inning Propels Missions to Friday Night Victory 

SAN ANTONIO – After trailing 2-0, the Missions offense came to life in the top of the fourth inning. With seven hits and a three-run home run, San Antonio scored eight runs in the inning. The Missions claimed their second consecutive victory with a 9-5 final score on Friday night.

Ryan Lillie was the starting pitcher for the San Antonio Missions. After retiring all three batters in the bottom of the first inning, Lillie had to pitch out of a jam in the bottom of the second inning. With one out in the inning, Jeremy Eierman hit a double to left field. Lillie left Eierman stranded at second base after a strike out and a fly out.

Matt Milburn was the starting pitcher for the Midland RockHounds. After retiring the first six batters he faced, the Missions had a scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning. Jorge Ona reached base on a throwing error from Eierman. Ripken Reyes followed that up with a base hit. With two runners on and no outs, Milburn left those runners stranded after striking out Edwin Rojas and Connor Hollis and recording a ground out.

Midland scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning. William Simoneit drew a walk to start the inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. After a walk to Chase Calabuig, Mickey McDonald advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Simoneit came around to score on a single from Brett Harris. Calabuig came around to score on a single from JJ Schwarz. The RockHounds took a 2-0 lead.

The Missions responded in a big way by scoring eight runs on seven hits in the top of the fourth inning. Tirso Ornelas drove in two runs with a double to right field. Ona drove in a run with an infield single. Hollis drove in two runs with a single to right field. Following the Hollis base hit, Milburn was replaced by Bryce Conley. Domingo Leyba put the finishing touch on the inning with a three-run home run. His sixth home run of the season made it an 8-2 Missions lead.

Midland plated their third run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Marty Bechina started off the inning with a base hit off Lillie. The right-hander induced a double play as Sahid Valenzuela hit a ground ball to shortstop. Simoneit extended the inning with a single to right field. That was the end of the night for Lillie as Fred Schlichtholz came on to pitch. The southpaw allowed a double to Calabuig and Simoneit came around to score. After walking the next batter, Harris grounded out to end the inning. It was an 8-3 Missions advantage.

Lake Bachar replaced Schlichtholz in the bottom of the sixth inning. The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings while striking out three batters. Kevin Kopps pitched the eighth inning for the Missions. Midland scored one run off Kopps to cut the lead to 8-4.

Leyba continued to swing a hot bat and hit his second home run of the night in the top of the ninth inning. Leyba became the third Missions player to record a multi-homer game this season (Brandon Dixon and Esteury Ruiz). His solo homer made it a 9-4 game.

Henry Henry pitched the ninth inning for the Missions and had an adventurous time on the mound. After walking the lead-off batter, Calabuig, Henry retired the next two batters. Calabuig advanced to second base on a defensive indifference and then came around to score on a single from Schwarz. He then allowed a wild pitch and a walk to Jordan Diaz. Jeremy Eierman hit a single off second baseman Reyes. After rounding third and stopping, Schwarz was tagged out at third base after Reyes threw it in to Hollis at third base. The final out of the game sealed a 9-5 victory.

Post-Game Notes

• With the win, San Antonio improves to 40-31 on the season
• 8-run 4th inning on seven hits, Leyba 2-for-2 in the inning with HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
• Leyba: 3rd Missions player with a 2-HR game (Brandon Dixon & Esteury Ruiz)
• Kevin Kopps (#14 Padres prospect): 1.0 IP, H, R, BB, K
• Reggie Lawson (#17 Padres prospect): DNP
• Tirso Ornelas (#23 Padres prospect): 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K

The San Antonio Missions will continue their six-game series with the Midland RockHounds on Saturday, July 2nd. Left-hander Osvaldo Hernandez (4-1, 6.08) is scheduled to start for the Missions. Left-hander David Leal (0-4, 5.70) is scheduled to start for the RockHounds. First pitch is expected at 7:00 p.m. from Momentum Bank Ballpark.

The San Antonio Missions are the Double-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. This is the 120th professional season for the San Antonio Missions. Single game tickets are available now and can be purchased online or at the 1st Base Box Office. Season seat memberships are available now. For more information call 210-675-PARK (7275) or visit samissions.com.

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