The San Antonio Missions trailed the Memphis Redbirds by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Saladino went to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.
It looked like Saladino might push over the tieing run when it appeared he was hit by a pitch after the ball bounced. Saladino didn’t get the call.
So Saladino took one more swing. This one produced his fourth hit and third double of the night – and ended the game.
Saladino’s walk-off double drove in Tuffy Gosewisch and Jake Hager to give the Missions a 4-3 victory Thursday night at Wolff Stadium.
Gosewisch had entered the game as a pinch-runner for David Freitas, who started the rally with a one-run walk. Hager, who pinch-hit in the pitcher’s spot, followed with a single. Mauricio Dubon drew a two-out walk to load the bases and set the stage for Saladino.
Missions relief pitcher Jay Jackson (2-1), who entered the game in the eight inning, pitched the top of the ninth and got the win.
The Redbirds had taken a 3-2 lead on a pair of solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Saladino had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning that gave the Missions a 2-1 lead.
The Missions’ Nate Orf scored the first run of the game by hitting his fifth home run of the season in the second inning.
