RockHounds Edge Missions in Fantastic Pitching Duel 

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Missions continued their series against the Midland RockHounds on Saturday night at Wolff Stadium. Both pitching staffs dominated and kept the game scoreless through eight innings. In the ninth, Midland plated a pair of runs to jump ahead. While the Missions answered with one of their own, the RockHounds hung on for a 2-1 win.

Jose Espada took the bump as the starting pitcher for the Missions. The RockHounds had runners reach scoring position in the first two innings, but Espada worked around them both times. Then Espada kept the third frame even cleaner by setting Midland down in order.

For Midland, starter Ryan Cusick matched Espada at every turn. He allowed two hits but no runs in the first three innings.

The RockHounds again got someone in position to score in the top of the fourth. Denzel Clarke walked and stole second base, but Espada made Shane McGuire whiff at strike three to keep the game scoreless.

After four stellar innings from Espada, the Missions turned to Bobby Milacki on the mound. Milacki picked up right where Espada left off, retiring every RockHound he faced in the fifth. Milacki did let a RockHound get to second base with just one out in the sixth, but that’s when he buckled up. Milacki first froze Greg Deichmann and then blew a fastball past JJ Schwarz to escape trouble with consecutive strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Cusick refused to flinch. He retired 17 consecutive Missions from the end of the second through the seventh inning.

Milacki started the eighth inning, but a leadoff single from Lawrence Butler knocked him out of the game. A new pitcher didn’t mean new results, as the train kept rolling for the Missions pitchers. This time the conductor was Kevin Kopps, who after a sacrifice bunt stranded Butler at second and preserved the goose eggs on the scoreboard.

Cusick exited the game despite setting down the last 17 batters he faced, and the Missions appreciated seeing a different name in Shohei Tomioka. Pedro Castellanos began the eighth inning with a single and became the first San Antonio baserunner since the second inning. Ray-Patrick Didder then walked with one away, and both Castellanos and Didder moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. However, Tomioka left them there thanks to a strikeout and a groundout, maintaining the tie.

In the ninth inning, Midland finally broke the ice against Kopps. With two on and two out, Drew Swift lifted the ball over Kevin Pichardo’s head in right field. Two runs scored, though Swift did get thrown out trying to extend his double into a triple. Headed to the bottom of the ninth, Midland led 2-0.

The Missions did not go down quietly. Ripken Reyes and Tirso Ornelas sparked a rally with back-to-back singles to start the ninth, and Reyes crossed home on a wild pitch. Ornelas made it all the way to third with two outs, but Durbin Feltman managed to shut the door and secure a 2-1 Midland win.

Post-Game Notes

• Final Score: 2-1

• With the loss, San Antonio falls to 37-31 on the season

• Jackson Wolf (#16 Padres prospect): Scheduled to pitch Sunday, June 25th

• Alek Jacob (#26 Padres prospect): DNP

• Tirso Ornelas (#28 Padres prospect): 1-3, BB

• Jose Espada (Missions starter): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

• Lawrence Butler (#7 Athletics prospect): 1-4

• Ryan Cusick (RockHounds starter): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 7 K, retired 17 batters in a row

The San Antonio Missions will continue their six-game series with the Midland RockHounds on Saturday, June 24th. Left-hander Jackson Wolf (6-6, 3.77) is scheduled to pitch for the Missions. Right-hander Blake Beers (5-3, 4.34) is scheduled to pitch for the RockHounds. Sunday’s first pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. from Nelson Wolff Stadium.

The San Antonio Missions are the Double-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The 2023 season is the 121st professional season for the San Antonio Missions. Postseason tickets will go on sale Tuesday, July 6th at 10:00 a.m. Season seat memberships, as well as group tickets, for the 2023 season are available now. Call 210-675-PARK to discuss pricing for season tickets, group tickets and hospitality. Single game tickets are on sale now. The Missions Box Office will be cashless this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the box office using credit cards. For more information on the upcoming season call 210-675-PARK (7275) or visit samissions.com.