Hudson Potts homered in Game 1. (Photo: Tim Campbell/Tulsa Drillers)
Missions drop a heartbreaker in extras
Tulsa Drillers 3, Missions 2 (10 innings)
Tulsa leads a best of 5 series 1-0
Key Stats: RHP Michel Baez 5.2 IP, H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K; LF Josh Naylor 2-5, SB, R; 1B Kyle Overstreet 2-4; 3B Hudson Potts 2-4, HR (1), R, RBI;
Prospect Watch: A lot to discuss from Game One of the Texas League Championship Series.
- Once again Michel Baez was able to blow hitters away with his fastball. He had seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings and when he could, would throw nothing but fastballs and blow hitters away. The downside is he could not command his secondary pitches nearly as well. Baez missed with over 50% of his secondary pitches, and quite a few that found the plate were left down the middle. He allowed only one hit, but walked four, hit two batters and uncorked three wild pitches. In his 5.2 innings, he threw 94 pitches (56 strikes).
Michel Baez stuck out seven but struggled with his breaking pitches. (Photo: Tim Campbell/Tulsa Drillers)
- The bullpen allowed only one hit with six strikeouts over the first 3.1 innings they were asked to work. Ronald Bolaños, Jason Jester, David Bednar, and Eric Yardley all dominated before Travis Radke came on for the tenth inning and didn’t have his stuff working.
- Hudson Potts hammered his home run to deep right-center field to tie the game at one in the second. Potts, who has struggled quite a bit since being promoted to San Antonio, has had multihit games in two straight playoff games. It is hard to remember that Potts is just 19, and is one of the youngest players in Double-A (along with Andres Muñoz).
Josh Naylor was 2-5 on the night. (Photo: Tim Campbell/Tulsa Drillers)
- When runners are on base you want to bat in your best player’s hands. Arguably the best (healthy) offensive player on the Missions is catcher Austin Allen. In his four at-bats, he came up with runners on three times, but he went 0-for-3 including a double play. Allen, who had 22 home runs and a .857 OPS in Double-A, is hitting .333/.376/.549 with the bases empty, but .177/.289/.345 with runners in scoring position.
