Darnell's Home Run Leads Missions to Win

James Darnell's team-leading 14th home run couldn't have come at a better time. The All-Star third baseman lined the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the eighth over the wall in left to break a 2-2 tie.

San Antonio has now won a season-high seven straight games and improves to a league-best 47-19 overall and 29-5 at home.

Vince Belnome clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning to spark the Missions to a quick 2-0 lead. Belnome now has 10 home runs and 28 RBI in his last 19 games. San Antonio starter Simon Castro held the RockHounds scoreless through the first three innings but Midland scored once each in the fourth and fifth to tie it up.

The score remained the same until Darnell's go-ahead long ball. It was the Missions 11th win in their final at-bat and they're also 18-6 in one-run games. San Antonio has tied the team mark for most wins in a half. The 2003 Missions went 47-22 in the first-half which was the fifth-best record for a half in the Texas League since 1977.

Game three of the series is tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. and there will be a post-game fireworks spectacular presented by St. Philip's College.