Ryder Jones Hits Go Ahead Homer In Ninth, Soddies Fall 7-6

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at San Antonio Missions [SD]

Amarillo Sod Poodles (24-32) | San Antonio Missions (28-28)

San Antonio, Texas — Game two of this series was a back and forth contest through the first four innings before becoming a standstill through the middle portion of the game. The Sod Poodles took the lead in the top of the ninth before San Antonio stole back-to-back games in walk-off fashion to begin this series.

Amarillo came out of the gates hot, jumping on Jordan Humphreys and the Missions in the top of the second inning. Buddy Kennedy got things started with a single with one out in the inning. Luis Basabe followed him on base with a walk before each advanced a base on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly into left field scored Kennedy from third. The second wild pitch of the inning moved Basabe up another 90 feet, allowing him to score easily on a RBI single from Geraldo Perdomo.

San Antonio cut into things in the home half of the second. What should have been a double play ball wasn't after an errant throw from second base that not only kept the runner aboard but put him in scoring position. A single scored the run and brought the Missions within one run.

The Soddies went back to work in the top of the third. Dominic Fletcher got things started with a one out double. Stone Garrett singled to score Fletcher before a Kennedy double scored Garrett and put Amarillo up three runs.

San Antonio wouldn't go away quietly as they strung together back-to-back singles. Another fielder's choice ball got away from the Sod Poodles and gave the Missions a bases loaded situation. A sac fly scored one, cutting the Sod Poodles lead to two and moved another run to third. A wild pitch plated another run and made it 4-3 in favor of Amarillo.

San Antonio took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. A leadoff walk advanced to second after a failed pickoff attempt. A second straight walk put another runner aboard before a double scored the tying run and sent the runner on first to third base. Soddies starter Luis Frias' night came to an end after 3.1 innings and five runs (two earned) on six hits. Left-hander Tyler Holton came on in relief with two inherited runners in scoring position. San Antonio took their first lead of the night on another sac fly and gave the Missions the 5-4 lead after four innings.

Neither team could muster much offense over the next four frames, setting the stage for a wild ninth inning.

Two quick outs in the top of the ninth put the Soddies behind the eight ball. Down to their final strike, Garrett hit a single through the hole at shortstop. Ryder Jones hooked a long foul ball down the right-field line before getting a pitch he could handle. Jones hit a go-ahead two-run home run to give the Sod Poodles a one run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

As they had done all night long, San Antonio wouldn't go away quietly. Back-to-back doubles tied the game and placed the Missions winning run on second with nobody out before a ground out moved the winning run to third. The Sod Poodles played strategy and intentionally walked the next batter to give them a chance at a double play to get out of the inning tied. A wild pitch foiled that plan and moved the runner to second base. The Soddies then played strategy again and intentionally walked the next batter to keep the double play opportunity intact. A single just past the outstretched diving arm of Mikey Reynolds gave the Missions the winning run as they walked off the Sod Poodles in consecutive games to begin this series.

The action continues from San Antonio tomorrow night with game three scheduled for a 7:05 PM first pitch. The Sod Poodles will send LHP Tommy Henry to the mound (1-3, 4.65 ERA) vs. RHP Reiss Kneher (6-1, 3.90).

Notes:

Heart Of The Order: Amarillo's 3-4-5 hitters combined to go 8-for-14 with four RBI and four runs scored tonight. Stone Garrett notched three hits and drove in a run while scoring twice. He kept the game alive with his two-out single in the ninth. Ryder Jones in his second game with the Sod Poodles since being transferred back to Amarillo also went 3-for-5 with the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning. Buddy Kennedy went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.

EEEErrors: Amarillo committed four errors in the game. It is tied for the second most errors committed by the team in a single game this year. Amarillo committed five errors against Midland on June 19th. Since the start of the series against Wichita, the Sod Poodles have committed 12 errors.

Ryding With Ryder:Ryder Jones has now gone 4-for-9 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI in this series. Jones hit his first home run with Amarillo since May 5th against Tulsa. Jones hit one home run in his 10 games with Triple-A Reno before being assigned to Amarillo.