Sneed's Cy-Worthy Performance Stops Missions

ROUND ROCK -- Round Rock Express starting pitcher Cy Sneed came within five outs of throwing a perfect game as Round Rock blanked the San Antonio Missions 4-0 on Wednesday night to move back into first place in the American Southern Division.
Sneed entered the game sporting a 13.50 ERA in his three starts this season, which included an outing at Wolff Stadium earlier this month in which he failed to record an out in the third inning before being lifted.
Cory Spangenberg lined a clean double into the left field corner with one out in the eighth inning to spoil's Sneed's bid for perfection. Sneed was lifted after eight innings, needing only 86 pitches. He was bidding to become only the fourth pitcher in PCL history to throw a nine-inning perfect game.
Round Rock struck early against Missions starter Bubba Derby (0-3). Yordan Alvarez slugged a two-run homer in the first inning with two outs to give the Express a 2-0 advantage.
A.J. Reed and Taylor Jones then greeted Derby with back-to-back homers to begin the second inning. It was the first time in his career that Derby allowed three homers in one outing.
A quartet of San Antonio relievers blanked the Express after Derby was pulled following 3.2 innings of work. It was right-hander's first appearance since May 8 after being placed on the injured list.
Mauricio Dubón extended his season-high hitting streak to seven games with a ninth inning single, the only other base runner for the Missions on the evening.
Travis Shaw played seven innings at third base in the first game of his MLB rehab assignment. The left-handed hitter was 0-for-3 at the plate.
The Missions were one of only two remaining teams in the PCL that had not been blanked.
NEXT: RH Jimmy Nelson (2-0 3.77) vs. RH Forrest Whitley (0-2, 10.48) 7:05 PM
KONO 860 AM