Ornelas Homers and Drives in Three as Missions Fall to Amarillo 

SAN ANTONIO – Wednesday marked the final Military Appreciation Night for the 2022 season as the Missions hosted the Amarillo Sod Poodles. San Antonio squandered leads twice on Wednesday night on their way to a game two defeat. After leading 3-0, Amarillo scored four runs in the fifth inning. San Antonio scored twice in the seventh to regain the lead. However, the Sod Poodles hit back-to-back homers and scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning. The final score on Wednesday night was 9-5.

Bryce Jarvis was the starting pitcher for the Sod Poodles. He entered Wednesday’s game with an 8.34 ERA against the Missions. San Antonio used the long ball to gain the lead off the right-hander in the first inning. With one out in the frame, Tirso Ornelas hit an opposite-field home run off the top of the left field wall. His seventh homer of the season made it a 1-0 Missions lead.

Henry Henry was the starting pitcher for the Missions. In his third inning of work, he had to pitch out of trouble to maintain the lead. Caleb Roberts began the inning with a double and Andy Yerzy drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Jorge Barrosa attempted a sacrifice bunt but it resulted in Roberts being forced out at third base. Jordan Lawlar grounded into a double play to end the inning.

San Antonio showed off their power again in the third inning and improved their lead to 3-0. Ripken Reyes started off the inning by drawing a walk. Connor Hollis hit an opposite-field home run over the right field wall. For Hollis, this was his ninth long ball of the season.

Similar to Tuesday night’s game, the Sod Poodles stormed back and took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits. Juan Centeno started off the frame with a double. He advanced to third base on a ground out before Roberts drew a walk. Yerzy drove in Centeno with a double to right field. After striking out the next batter, Lawlar drove in two runs with a base hit to left field. Henry issued a free pass to Roby Enriquez before allowing an RBI single to Deyvison De Los Santos. He was replaced by Edwuin Bencomo following the base hit. Amarillo gained a 4-3 advantage.

San Antonio had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Hollis hit a one-out single and advanced to second base on a ground out from Ornelas. He made it to third base on a wild pitch from Jarvis. Hollis was left stranded after Domingo Leyba grounded out.

Amarillo threatened to increase their lead in the sixth and seventh innings but failed to do so. In the sixth, Bencomo allowed back-to-back singles to A.J. Vukovich and Roberts. Yerzy grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the seventh, Jordan Guerrero allowed two runners to reach on an error and a walk. Roby Enriquez bounced into a double play to end that inning.

The Missions completed the comeback and regained the lead in the seventh inning. Facing Justin Martinez, Kelvin Melean and Reyes each drew walks. Hollis grounded out for the second out of the inning and both runners moved into scoring position. Ornelas drove them both in with a double to left-center field. His hit made it a 5-4 Missions lead.

In the top of the ninth inning, Lake Bachar entered the game for his eighth save attempt. Roberts legged out a triple to start the inning. Yerzy drew a walk and Eduardo Diaz entered the game as a pinch runner for Yerzy. Bachar struck out the next batter before allowing an RBI single to Lawlar to tie the game. Bachar struck out Enriquez for the second out of the frame. De Los Santos hit a three-run, go-ahead home run to left field. Blaze Alexander made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot to left field. Amarillo took a 9-5 lead.

*Post-Game Notes *

• With the loss, San Antonio falls to 29-36 (2nd half), 67-65 (overall) on the season

• Noel Vela (#11 Padres prospect): DNP

• Jackson Wolf (#13 Padres prospect): Scheduled to pitch 9/16

• Joshua Mears (#14 Padres prospect): 0-4, 2 K

• Tirso Ornelas (#18 Padres prospect): 2-5, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R, K

• Kevin Kopps (#23 Padres prospect): DNP

• Alek Jacob (#24 Padres prospect): DNP

The San Antonio Missions will continue their six-game homestand with the Amarillo Sod Poodles on Thursday, September 15th. Right-hander Thomas Eshelman (3-5, 4.91) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Right-hander Slade Cecconi (7-6, 4.44) is scheduled to pitch for the Sod Poodles. First pitch is expected at 7:05 p.m. from Nelson Wolff Stadium.

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. Playoff tickets for September 22nd are available now. Single game tickets 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.