Missions Win Opener 1-0

San Antonio, Texas - Matt Wisler and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout leading the San Antonio Missions to a 1-0 victory over the Arkansas Travelers in the opener of the Texas League Championship Series at Wolff Stadium on Tuesday night. Wisler defeated the Travs for the fourth time in five tries with 6.2 innings of work. Missions catcher Austin Hedges delivered the only RBI of the game with a second-inning single.

 

The loss was the Travs first since August 25 snapping an 11-game winning streak and their seventh in seven tries against the Missions on the road.

 

Travelers right hander Brandon Hynick was excellent in the loss throwing an eight-inning complete game. The last 17 Missions batters were retired by the Texas League All-Star who struck out eight batters and walked just one.

 

The game's lone run came in the second inning on a pair of two-out base hits. Yeison Asencio hit a ground ball double down the third-base line and scored when Hedges knocked a single to center. 

 

Hynick worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third inning by striking out Robert Kral and inducing Jake Blackwood into a fielder's choice. 

 

The Travs failed to take advantage of a leadoff double by C.J. Cron in the top of the fourth inning. Cron moved to third on a groundout by Robbie Widlansky giving Jimmy Swift a chance with the Missions infield playing up. Swift followed with a chopper past the mound that brought Cory Spangenberg to his right for a tough play. However Cron held at third base and Swift was forced at first base. The Missions held the 1-0 lead when Travis Witherspoon's line drive was caught by right fielder Yeison Asencio.

 

Hynick threw perfect ball for his last five innings, but the Travs couldn't get anything going against Wisler or the San Antonio bullpen with 14 of their last 15 batters retired. Wisler walked Taylor Lindsey with two outs in the fifth inning but struck out Cyle Hankerd to end the inning and then set down his last seven hitters. Ryan Kelly replaced Wisler for the last out of the seventh.

 

Leonel Campos allowed the last base hit of the night, a two-out single to Hankerd in the eighth inning, but also completed a scoreless eighth inning. Jeremy McBryde closed the game for his second post season save with a perfect ninth inning.

 

The Travs and Missions return to Wolff Stadium on Wednesday for the second game of the best-of-five series. Michael Roth (1-0, 1.29) is set for the start for the Travelers while San Antonio goes with Eddie Bonine (1-0, 0.00). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Coverage with the Travs Dugout Show begins at 6:40 p.m. on Sports Animal 920.