Missions Can’t Stop the Surge in 7-1 Loss

SAN ANTONIO – The Missions went down for their second straight loss 7-1 before a big house on a giveaway jersey night. Unfortunately, with San Antonio committing another three-error game, the Wichita Wind Surge were also on the receiving end of freebies from the home club.

Robby Snelling, who came into the game with a 1.98 ERA through his first three starts, couldn’t make it through the third inning. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and labored through 76 pitches.

“We are still trying to figure out what happened with Robby because the other team didn’t miss tonight; even the foul balls were being hit hard,” said Luke Montz.

“You know, in baseball, we are always looking for if something is being tipped, and on the other hand, he just left a lot of balls over the plate, and you can’t do that in Double-A baseball.”

Offensively, the Missions were held to five hits, with two singles coming in the ninth inning. Brandon Valenzuela notched the only extra-base knock with his seventh double of the season in the second inning.

There were some positives. Jakob Marsee logged a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a single and stole two more bases. He is now tied for the Texas League lead with 10. In his last six games, he has posted a .286/.423/.333 slash line as he is starting to come out of his early season slump.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” said Montz on Marsee’s surge. “He comes to work every day and has such a positive attitude. He didn’t get off to the start that he wanted, but he keeps his head down and is working his butt off to get better.

“He does everything on a positive note and is looking to help the team in any way he can, either with his bat or his glove.”

Although it was a blowout, three San Antonio arms, Yovanny Cruz, Reggie Lawson, and Jayvien Sandridge, combined to strike out nine batters in three and a third innings of work. Lawson and Sandridge displayed impressive velocity, with Reggie sitting between 94 and 96 mph in his inning. Sandridge, 25, a minor league free agent signed in the offseason, gave up a walk to the opening batter in the seventh and struck out the next three with his fastball velocity in the 93 to 96 range.

On the season, the 6-foot-5 lefty has 15 strikeouts against five walks in 7.1 innings. He’s held opponents to a .192 average while allowing just one earned run.

In a sign of just how poorly the game went when, the most effective pitching performance of the night was delivered by backup infielder Chase Valentine, throwing for the first time since he was his team’s closer in high school. He set down all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

“It was more like Luke came up and asked me if I wanted to help out the team, so it was no problem,” said a smiling Valentine after the game.

“Hey, I saved some arms, only threw 15 pitches, and got everyone in early for food. That’s a good night.”

Notes: Ryan Bergert, who has pitched well this season, with 17 strikeouts in 12.2 innings and only a single walk for a 3.55 ERA, will get the start on Saturday.