Missions Draw 11 Walks, Hollis Hits A Grand Slam in Thursday Night Victory 

Esteury Ruiz Goes 0-for-1 with 5 Runs Scored (3 HBP, 2 BB)

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Missions came into Thursday night’s game with hopes of putting together their first three-game win streak of the season. In another back-and-forth battle, reminiscent of games one and two, the Missions outlasted Corpus Christi with an 11-8 victory. The Missions offense drew 11 walks throughout the night, including four walks drawn by Domingo Leyba. Esteury Ruiz scored five runs while going 0-for-1 at the plate. The Missions record their 10th win of the year and third consecutive win.

As they did in games one and two of this series, the San Antonio Missions took the lead in the top of the first inning. Joe Record got the spot start for the Hooks after Cody Deason was a late scratch. He hit the lead-off batter Esteury Ruiz to begin the game. Ruiz eventually ended up at third base after stealing second base. On the steal attempt, a fielding error from Grae Kessinger allowed Ruiz to advance to third base. Yorman Rodriguez drove him home with a single to center field. The Missions took a 1-0 lead.

Alek Jacob was the starting pitcher for the Missions and he was making his first career start. The lead the offense gave him quickly subsided as Corpus Christi captured their first lead of the night. Jacob allowed a lead-off double to Wilyer Abreu, a bunt single to Enmanuel Valdez, and a single to Yainer Diaz. Diaz scored Abreu with his single to tie the game. Luke Berryhill ripped a double down the left field line to score Valdez and give Corpus a 2-1 lead. Jacob was able to stop the bleeding by striking out the next two batters and recording a ground out to end the inning.

Control was an issue for Joe Record and Jonathan Sprinkle in the second inning. The Missions regained the lead by scoring three runs without recording a base hit. Record began the inning. He struck out the first batter but then walked Agustin Ruiz and hit Esteury Ruiz for the second time in the game. Sprinkle came in following the hit by pitch. He unloaded a wild pitch and then walked Connor Hollis to load the bases. He then walked Domingo Leyba to score the first run of the inning. After striking out Rodriguez, a second wild pitch allowed Esteury Ruiz to score. Lastly, a third wild pitch allowed Hollis to come around and score. San Antonio took a 4-2 advantage.

Jacob only lasted one inning and was replaced by Gabriel Morales before the start of the second inning. After pitching a scoreless inning, Corpus Christi cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning. Valdez and Diaz both drew walks to start off the inning. Berryhill singled which loaded the bases. Shay Whitcomb hit a grounder to third base and Hollis threw home to force out the lead runner. With the bases still loaded, Gabriel Morales walked Justin Dirden to make it a 4-3 ballgame.

The Missions offense continued to use stellar plate vision to score an insurance run in the top of the fourth inning. Michael Horrell began the inning on the mound for the Hooks. He walked Agustin and Esteury Ruiz to start the inning. After striking out Hollis, Horrell was removed during his at-bat with Leyba due to an apparent injury. Chandler Casey replaced him on the mound. Casey walked Leyba to load the bases. Rodriguez reached base on a fielder’s choice after hitting a grounder to third base. Whitcomb was able to force out the lead runner at home. A wild pitch from Casey allowed Esteury Ruiz to score and make it a 5-3 game. The Missions at this point had just one hit to go with their five runs.

The Hooks continued to battle and tied the game at five in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wilyer Abreu hit a one-out double to immediately put a runner in scoring position. Valdez capitalized on the opportunity and drove him in with a single to right field. Diaz followed that up with a single of his own and moved Valdez to third base. Valdez later scored after Berryhill grounded into a fielder’s choice.

San Antonio had a chance to regain the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Hollis reached base on an infield single and advanced to second base on a throwing error from Whitcomb. Hollis was left stranded after fly out, a ground out, and a strike out.

With a depleted bullpen, Corpus Christi turned to position player Jose Alvarez to take the mound in the top of the eighth inning. After striking out Agustin Ruiz to start the inning, Alvarez walked Esteury Ruiz and allowed a base hit to Hollis. He then walked Leyba to load the bases. Rodriguez provided the big blow of the inning as he drove Ruiz and Hollis with a single to left field. His two-run single made it a 7-5 Missions lead.

With Alvarez still on the mound in the top of the ninth, the Missions looked to add some insurance runs. Ona singled to start the inning but Alvarez recovered and induced a double play off the bat of Juan Fernandez. Chris Givin singled to extend the inning. Agustin Ruiz also singled. Esteury Ruiz was hit by a pitch for the third time and loaded the bases. Hollis made the Hooks pay with a grand slam over the left field wall. His third home run of the season made it an 11-5 ballgame.

The Hooks made a late comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth inning. Facing Kevin Kopps, Abreu and Valdez drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Berryhill drove in a run with a double to left field. Whitcomb drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly. Lastly, a wild pitch from Kopps scored Berryhill. The Missions held on to win 11-8.

Post-Game Notes

• With the win, San Antonio improves to 10-14 on the season
• Esteury Ruiz has reached base in all 24 games played this season
• First 3-game winning streak of the season
• Korry Howell (#14 Padres prospect): DNP
• Kevin Kopps (#15 Padres prospect): SV, 1.2 IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Tirso Ornelas (#25 Padres prospect): 0-5, K
• Agustin Ruiz (#26 Padres prospect): 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB, K
• E. Ruiz: 0-1, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 HBP
• Leyba: 0-1, 4 BB

The San Antonio Missions continue their six-game series in Corpus Christi on Friday, May 6th. Right-hander Gabe Mosser (0-0, 3.86) is scheduled to start for the Missions. Right-hander Misael Tamarez (1-0, 1.88) is scheduled to start for the Hooks. The first pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

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.