Gale Hits Walk Off Home Run

Rocky Gale gave the Missions a series-clinching, 5-4 win over Midland Saturday night with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.
 
San Antonio entered the game with just three runs through the first three games of the series, and for a while Saturday, it looked like it would be another long night at the plate. Midland starter Zach Neal did not allow a hit until the fifth, when Jake Blackwood stroked a single to right.
 
Fortunately for the Missions, starter Juan Oramas was impressive on the hill as well, keeping the RockHounds off the board in his four innings. The left-hander was coming off a rough outing on July 6 in Springfield when he allowed a career-high eight runs in just two innings.
 
The game remained tied until the sixth when the Missions finally got to Neal. Rico Noel kicked off the rally with a one-out single to center. After Cory Spangenberg reached on an error, Tommy Medica followed with a double to right-center field, putting the Missions up 2-0. The first baseman was 0-for-15 in the series heading into the at-bat. Two batters later, Blackwood pushed the lead to three with a base knock to left. After a pitching change, Everett Williams greeted Pedro Vidal with an RBI single to right, capping the four-run eruption.
 
San Antonio held their four-run advantage until the eighth when Midland's Jake Goebbert stunned the home crowd of 5,839 with a game-tying grand slam off Jeff Ibarra. The runs were the first charged to the Missions' pen in 14.1 innings at Wolff Stadium.
 
After Jeremy McBryde (3-3) retired the RockHounds in order in the top of the ninth, the Missions had a chance to avoid extras in their half of the ninth against Vidal (0-1). The left-hander quickly got two outs, before Gale took his 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field. It was just the third career home run for the Missions' catcher.
 
The win gave San Antonio (52-39, 14-8) its fourth straight series win and their 11th win in their last 13 games. The Missions will head to Frisco on Sunday to begin a four-game series at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Keyvius Sampson (6-4, 2.90) will get the ball in the opener for San Antonio, while Frisco will counter with right-hander Nick McBride (1-5, 5.84). First pitch is set for 6:05 PM.