Erceg, Dubon, Spangenberg, Allemand homer to power Missions past Cubs

The San Antonio Missions' Blake Allemand hit his second home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the seventh inning. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions’ Blake Allemand hit his second home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the seventh inning. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions hit four home runs including back-to-back shots by Mauricio Dubon and Cory Spangenberg to beat the Iowa Cubs 10-2 Sunday at Wolff Stadium.

Iowa scored one run in the top of the first to lead briefly but only scored one run the rest of the way.

Missions starting pitcher Thomas Jankins, who picked up the win, also drove in San Antonio’s first run with a line drive to left in the third inning. Jankins and Trent Grisham scored later in the inning and the Missions had all the runs it turned out they needed.

Lucas Erceg hit his 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast in the fourth to make it 5-2.

Dubon hit his 12th home run of the season and Spangenberg hit his seventh back-to-back in the fifth inning.

Blake Allemand added his second home run of the season in the seventh inning.

The Missions finished with 11 hits.

Jankins (8-2) pitched six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Jon Olczak, who was activated off the injured list earlier in the day, pitched two innings and Donnie Hart pitched the ninth to finish the game for the Missions.

The San Antonio Missions' Lucas Erceg hit his 11th home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions’ Lucas Erceg hit his 11th home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions' Mauricio Dubon hit his 12th home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the fifth inning. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions’ Mauricio Dubon hit his 12th home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the fifth inning. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions' Cory Spangenberg hit his seventh home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the fifth inning. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions’ Cory Spangenberg hit his seventh home run of the season Sunday at Wolff Stadium, a solo shot in the fifth inning. – photo by Joe Alexander

Missions outfielders and Brewers prospect Trent Grisham

Missions outfielder Trent Grisham hits an eighth-inning home run against the Round Rock Express on Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions outfielder Trent Grisham hits an eighth-inning home run against the Round Rock Express on Friday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Trent Grisham was leading the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in home runs before he was promoted.

The 2015 first-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers accelerated his home run rate when he reached Triple-A. He hit home runs in his first three games, all on the road, with the San Antonio Missions.

Friday night he played centerfield and hit his first home run at Wolff Stadium, the Missions’ home field. That was one of only four Missions hits in a 9-2 loss to the Round Rock Express.

The Fort Worth native is batting .286 with four home runs after seven games with the Missions.

Grisham, a 6-foot, 205-pound left-hander, played 63 games with the Shuckers this season and hit .254 with 13 home runs.

Missions’ Keston Hiura, Tyler Saladino set to join Brewers

Missions second baseman Keston Hiura playing against the Tacoma Rainiers on Wednesday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Keston Hiura, shown earlier this season, is expected to officially be called up by the Brewers on Friday. – photo by Joe Alexander
On a night when the San Antonio Missions combined stellar pitching with couple of home runs, the biggest story was two players who weren’t at Thursday’s game.

Keston Hiura and Tyler Saladino packed their bags before the game and left Wolff Stadium. Next stop, the big leagues.

The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to announce on Friday that Hiura and Saladino are being called up. Both have spent time with the Brewers earlier this season. Speculation about when Hiura would be called back up has been constant since he was sent back to San Antonio.

Apparently the call came Thursday afternoon. Both players were at batting practice at Wolff Stadium. At about 4:20 p.m. Central time, Hiura walked off the field as teammates waved at him.

A short time after that a member of the gameday staff reported that Saladino had exited the stadium. A team official confirmed both players were headed up.

Hiura hit .329 in 57 games in Triple-A with a team-high 19 home runs. Saladino hit .288 in 67 games and was second on the team in homers with 14.

The Missions' Tyler Saladino watches his three-run homer sail over the right-field fence in the sixth inning against the Redbirds on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyler Saladino, shown earlier this season, is expected to officially be called up by the Brewers on Friday. – photo by Joe Alexander

By the way, Missions win

The Missions beat the Round Rock Express 3-0 on Thursday at Wolff Stadium.

Lucas Erceg and Jake Hager both homered for the Missions. Nate Orf drove in the other run.

Missions starting pitcher Burch Smith (6-3) went six innings and got the win. He allowed one hit with seven strikeouts and four walks. Deolis Guerra, Donnie Hart and Taylor Williams each pitched one inning in the combined shutout.

Missions starter Burch Smith pitched six innings and got the win against the Express on Thursday night at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions starter Burch Smith pitched six innings and got the win against the Express on Thursday night at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

To respectfully, kind of, disagree

From the Express at Missions game Thursday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
From the Express at Missions game Thursday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
It’s no fun being picked off first base. It’s even less fun when you get called out when you think you were safe.

Garrett Stubbs. From the San Antonio Missions (Flying Chanclas) vs. Round Rock Express (Chupacabras) game on Thursday at Wolff Stadium.

Brewers’ Corbin Burnes pitches two innings for Missions in loss to Express

Corbin Burns started for the Missions and pitched two scoreless innings on Wednesday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Corbin Burns started for the Missions and pitched two scoreless innings on Wednesday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Right-handed pitcher Corbin Burns started for the Missions on Wednesday in his first game since being sent down from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Burns had been used mostly as a reliever by the Brewers. Media reports from Milwaukee before the game indicated he would still throw limited innings in San Antonio.

Burns pitched two strong scoreless innings and struck out two batters‌ in a 4-2 loss to the Round Rock Express at Wolff Stadium. He did not allow any hits or walks. He threw 24 pitches, 17 for strikes.

The Missions’ only runs came on a two-run homer by Troy Stokes Jr. in the fourth inning.

Troy Stokes Jr. and Nate Orf celebrate after both players scored on Stokes' fourth-inning home run. - photo by Joe Alexander
Troy Stokes Jr. and Nate Orf celebrate after both players scored on Stokes’ fourth-inning home run. – photo by Joe Alexander

Missions’ Freitas, Hiura, Jackson, Saladino named to PCL All-Star roster

Missions second baseman Keston Hiura playing against the Tacoma Rainiers on Wednesday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Keston Hiura was named to the 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star roster. – photo by Joe Alexander
From a San Antonio Missions news release

The Pacific Coast League announced today their 33-man roster for the 2019 Triple-A All-Star Game. Second baseman Keston Hiura, infielder Tyler Saladino, catcher David Freitas, and relief pitcher Jay Jackson will represent the San Antonio Missions in their inaugural season as a member of the Pacific Coast League.

The 32nd Annual Triple-A All-Star Game will pit the Pacific Coast League All-Stars against the International League All-Stars and will be played on Wednesday, July 10 at Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM CDT. The game will be televised on MLB Network with Scott Braun, Bill Ripken, Jim Callis, and Kelly Nash on the call. The telecast will be available online at MiLB.tv, the MiLB First Pitch app, and MLBNetwork.com. The game can be heard on KONO 860 AM with El Paso Chihuahuas broadcaster Tim Hagerty and Louisville Bats broadcaster Nick Curran calling the action.

Hiura is ranked as the top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization and has been named to a mid-season all-star team for the second consecutive season after being tabbed a 2018 Carolina League All-Star while with Advanced-A Carolina. In 56 games with the Missions the second baseman is batting .332 with 44 runs, 16 doubles, 19 home runs, and 46 RBI. His .692 slugging percentage and 1.104 OPS are each ranked third in the Pacific Coast League. His 19 home runs are tied for seventh in the league and his batting average is good for ninth. The 22-year-old made his Major League debut this season and in 17 games with the Brewers hit .281 with 5 home runs and 9 RBI.

Freitas joined the Missions on April 14 after being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers from the Seattle Mariners. In 53 games the 30-year-old is batting .369, which is good for third in the PCL. He has scored 28 runs, tallied 15 doubles, 5 home runs, and driven in 46, which is tied with Hiura for the second most on the Missions. His on-base percentage of .444 is also third on the circuit. This is the fourth mid-season all-star nod for Freitas and first since 2012. He was named a mid-season all-star in each of his first three professional seasons.

Saladino has played all over the diamond for the Missions this season having seen time at all four infield positions along with left field and right field. In 66 games for the Missions the 29-year-old is batting .293 with 43 runs, 18 doubles, 14 home runs and 57 RBI. His 57 runs driven in are tied for seventh in the PCL. This will be Saladino’s second appearance in the Triple-A All-Star game as he was selected to represent the International League while with Charlotte in 2014.

Jackson has been named a mid-season all-star for the third time in his career and first since 2013. The right-hander has been one of the elite options out of the bullpen in the PCL in 2019 as he sports a 4-2 record with a miniscule 1.14 ERA in 25 appearances for San Antonio. He has converted six of seven save opportunities, which are tied for sixth in the league. Opponents are hitting just .171 against Jackson, which is the second lowest among relievers. He also boasts the fewest baserunners per nine innings among relievers at 7.11.

David Freitas. The San Antonio Missions beat the Round Rock Express 10-9 Sunday at Wolff Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ David Freitas was named to the 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star roster. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions' Tyler Saladino watches his three-run homer sail over the right-field fence in the sixth inning against the Redbirds on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyler Saladino was named to the 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star roster. – photo by Joe Alexander
Jay Jackson got the save. The Missions beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-3 Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Jay Jackson was named to the 2019 Pacific Coast League All-Star roster. – photo by Joe Alexander

Missions manager Rick Sweet wins No. 2,000

Missions manager Rick Sweet celebrates his 2,000 career win after Tuesday night's victory over Round Rock at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions manager Rick Sweet celebrates his 2,000 career win after Tuesday night’s victory over Round Rock at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Rick Sweet has spent a lot of his life tending to the success of others.

Sweet has put in 30 seasons as a minor league manager, guiding young baseball players on the way to the majors.

Tuesday night, Sweet’s San Antonio Missions players doused him with ice-water after the team’s 10-2 victory over the Round Rock Express at Wolff Stadium. It was Sweet’s 2,000th win.

The Missions currently have the best record in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League at 49-29.

Mauricio Dubon, Zack Brown lead surging Missions past Aces

Missions shortstop Mauricio Dubon hits a second-inning home run Monday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions shortstop Mauricio Dubon hits a second-inning home run Monday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions won their fifth straight and 10th of the last 14 games with Monday’s 8-4 victory over the Reno Aces at Wolff Stadium.

Mauricio Dubon had three hits including his 10th home run of the season.

Missions starting pitcher Zack Brown (2-4) got the win and also hit an RBI double and walked. Brown pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs. He gave up six hits, struck out five and walked three.

In addition to his home run, Dubon had a single and a double. It was his fifth straight game with multiple hits. During that stretch he has raised his batting average from .290 to .312.

The Missions took control of the game with three runs in the second inning and four runs in the third.

All the Missions’ damage in the second inning came with two outs. Lucas Erceg started the rally with his seventh double of the season. Brown doubled down the first base line to score Erceg. Dubon’s homer with Brown on gave the Missions a 4-1 lead.

The Missions’ half of the third inning included a sacrifice fly by Erceg and a two-RBI single by Dubon. Dubon had four RBIs in the game and now has 36 for the season.

Former Reagan star Anthony Vasquez’s odyssey through the minors brings him back to San Antonio

Former Reagan High School and Texas A&M pitcher Anthony Vasquez is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. - photo by Joe Alexander
Former Reagan High School and Texas A&M pitcher Anthony Vasquez is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. – photo by Joe Alexander
Anthony Vasquez has traveled a lot of miles since his days as a pitcher and outfielder at Reagan High School in San Antonio.

After earning all-state honors as a senior outfielder at Reagan in 2005, Vasquez played his college ball first at Texas A&M, then at Southern Cal. He has been pitching in the minors since 2009, including four stints in the Mexican winter league.

The 6-foot, left-hander is now with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vasquez and the Aces are currently in San Antonio for a four-game series with the San Antonio Missions.

This season in the Pacific Coast League, Vasquez has a 3-4 record with a 6.23 ERA. He has appeared in 13 games including seven starts.

Vasquez pitched two innings in relief on Sunday against the Missions. He also pinch-hit in Saturday night’s 12-inning game at Wolff Stadium.

David Freitas helps Missions belt Aces

David Freitas drove in three runs for the Missions with a fifth-inning double on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
David Freitas drove in three runs for the Missions with a fifth-inning double on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
David Freita had a three-RBI double and a solo home run as the San Antonio Missions beat the Reno Aces 8-3 Sunday at Wolff Stadium.

Nate Orf drove in the Missions’ first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Orf was one of three Missions to score when Freitas doubled with the bases loaded later in the inning to give the Missions a 4-2 lead.

Michael O’Neill had an RBI double and scored on a single by Mauricio Dubon as the Missions added two more runs in the sixth to make it 6-2.

Freitas hit his fourth home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the seventh and make it 7-2.

Orf doubled in O’Neill in the bottom of the eighth for the Missions’ final run.

The Aces scored the first two runs of the game on solo home runs by Abraham Almonte in the third and fifth innings.

Missions starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson (6-1) went five innings and got the win. He gave up the two home runs to Almonte – the only runs Wilkerson has allowed in home games at Wolff this season.