Seven-run third propels Missions to 8-4 win

FRISCO, TEXAS (July 24, 2014) - The 'Riders were unable to stay hot coming off of their recent road trip and fell 8-4 to the San Antonio Missions on Thursday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Joey Gallo hit his pro-ball leading 34th homer in the loss and the game featured Rangers' rehabber Joseph Ortiz making his Double-A debut.

Jose Monegro (0-1) made his first Double-A start with the 'Riders in 2014 after being called up from Myrtle Beach. He gave up a leadoff double to right off the bat Cory Spangenberg but settled in to retire his next seven consecutive batters.

The Missions (18-16, 54-50), however, got to Monegro in what would be a lengthy third frame. Diego Goris doubled on a line drive to left and scored on Spangenberg's second double of the game, this one to right, which made it 1-0 San Antonio.

Spangenberg stole third base, his ninth steal of the year, and Casey McElroy took a pitch off the foot to put runners on the corners with one out. Yeison Asencio singled on a ground ball to left to put the Missions up 2-0, and Monegro earned a big second out by getting Hunter Renfroe to pop out in foul territory down the third base line.

The designated hitter, Alex Dickerson, singled home McElroy to give San Antonio a 3-0 advantage and Adam Buschini walked to load the bases.

That brought up Robert Kral who busted the game wide open 7-0 with his fourth homer of the year, a grand slam, to right field.  

San Antonio tacked on another run in the fourth frame to make it 8-0 when Spangenberg scored on Asencio's second base knock of the night. 

Right-hander Leonel Campos (1-3) started the game for the Missions and pitched the first three innings in perfect fashion, but Chris Grayson led off the fourth with a single to break up Campos' bid for perfection. Campos, however, still faced the minimum through four as Odubel Herrera lined into a double play to end the frame.

The Missions would not hold onto the shutout for much longer as Gallo crushed his 13th Texas League homer to make it 8-2, his 34th overall for the year, which was a two-run shot to the Kroger Pool Zone in right-center. Trever Adams led off the frame with a double to left-center and jogged the bases following the Gallo moonshot.

J.T. Wise followed suit with a single ripped to left and he later scored on a Teodoro Martinez double to center field to shrink the Missions' lead to 8-3.

Frisco (18-16, 58-45) tacked on another run in the eighth to make it 8-4 San Antonio when Jake Skole singled and scored from first on Patrick Cantwell's RBI double deep into the left field corner.

Monegro suffered the loss and pitched 2.2 innings while giving up six runs on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He gave up one home run, one wild pitch and threw 38 of his 60 pitches for strikes in his first Double-A start of 2014.

Campos earned the win by pitching five frames and allowing three runs on five base hits. He struck out five, gave up one homer and tossed 44 of his 72 pitches for strikes.

The RoughRiders take the field in game two of this four-game set Friday at 7:05 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Southpaw Alex Claudio (1-2, 2.08 ERA) will pitch against right-hander James Needy (7-3, 2.85 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.