SAN ANTONIO — The Missions ended their five-game losing streak, using a five-run first inning and another strong pitching performance by staff ace Henry Baez, to claim a 6-1 victory over Midland and avoid being swept at home.
“You start a game like that, especially with what we have been going through, it feels great, and it was kind of a carryover from the tenth inning last night,” said a smiling Missions manager Luke Montz.
“The guys just kept getting after it. A great way to start the game and to finish it with a win.”
After Devin Ortiz and Romeo Sanabria made the first two outs of the first inning, San Antonio rapped out six consecutive hits, including RBI doubles by Albert Fabian and Moisés Gómez and an RBI triple to deep center by Marcos Castañon to plate the fifth run.
Henry Baez made another strong start. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
On the mound, Baez took a bit to find his footing. After working around two singles in the first, he gave up a leadoff triple in the second inning. He hit the next batter, but settled down to induce a double play, trading the outs for a run. He escaped only allowing one run in the inning and began a stretch of setting down the final 11 batters he faced. He left the game after five innings and 66 pitches.
“It was a slightly sluggish start by Henry, but he always gets stronger as he goes deeper into the game,” said Montz. “[There wasn’t] a lot of contact or anything really hard hit against him except for the triple, but that is kind of what he does.
“It was his second start since the All-Star break, so we want to give those guys a chance to build back up,” said Montz to explain the early hook. “He wants more, and next week he will be back to 85 or 90 pitches.”
Right-hander Andrew Moore replaced Baez in the sixth and didn’t allow a run despite a walk and hit batter. He was followed by Kevin Kopps, who pitched an inning and two-thirds of scoreless ball. Kopps struggled on Friday, hitting two batters and allowing two runs, but bounced back on Sunday with three strikeouts against a walk.
Brandon Valenzuela had hits from both sides of the plate on Sunday. (Photo: Vashaun Newman)
Brandon Valenzuela, who has been struggling at the plate in July, had a big day with a pair of hits, including a two-out solo home run in the seventh inning to give an extra insurance run.
Despite his recent offensive struggles, Valenzuela still leads the team with 12 homers and 45 RBI. The blast was the switch-hitter’s third of the year right-handed. [Note, subscribers can read Clark Fahrenthold’s profile of Padres prospect Brandon Valenzuela here.]
“That solo home run was huge by Brandon to give us that add-on run in the seventh,” said Montz. “A lot of positives with Brandon. He has demonstrated his consistency both defensively and in his work with the staff, regardless of whether things are going well at the plate.
“Our job, and especially mine as an ex-catcher, is to help him keep that consistency of being a catcher first and let the bat take you where it needs to go to get him to the big leagues.”
Lefty Jake Higginbotham came in and got the last four outs to help San Antonio salvage one game out of six with the RockHounds.
Mission Notes: San Antonio will travel to Frisco to take on the RoughRiders starting on Tuesday. Frisco has a Texas League-worst 9-18 record in the second half, though they have scored nearly a run a game more than the Missions.
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