Tyrone Taylor, Corey Ray homer as Missions roll into showdown with Express

The San Antonio Missions' Tyrone Taylor hit his 13th home run of the season in the first inning on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyrone Taylor hit his 13th home run of the season in the first inning on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Tyrone Taylor stayed hot with a home run for the second night in a row as the San Antonio Missions beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-0 Sunday night at Wolff Stadium.

Sunday marked the Missions’ last home game before the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

The Missions, who swept the three-game series against the Dodgers, are one game behind the Round Rock Express in the American Southern division. The Missions and Express open a crucial four-game series Monday in Round Rock.

The Missions got the jump on the Dodgers when Taylor hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning.

It was was the 13th homer of the season for Taylor, who is on a 12-game hitting streak. Since Aug. 12, Taylor has hit five home runs and his batting average has climbed from .238 to .275.

The Missions’ other run came when Corey Ray hit his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning.

The San Antonio Missions' Corey Ray hit his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Corey Ray hit his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

Nate Orf, Tyrone Taylor power Missions past OKC

The San Antonio Missions' Nate Orf watches his fourth-inning grand slam sail out to left on Saturday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Nate Orf watches his fourth-inning grand slam sail out to left on Saturday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Nate Orf hit his first professional grand slam and Tyrone Taylor added a home run as the San Antonio Missions pounded the Oklahoma City Dodgers 15-3 Saturday at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions are two games behind the Round Rock Express in the Pacific Coast League American Southern division. The Missions play their final home game of the regular season on Sunday at 6:05 p.m.

Orf’s 10th home run of the season came in the fourth inning, when the Missions scored six runs and batted around. That turned the game around, changing a 3-0 Dodgers lead to a 6-3 Missions advantage.

The Missions also put up six runs in the seventh inning. Taylor’s 12th home run of the season came in the eighth inning with one on and accounted for the Missions’ final runs of the game.

Orf finished with two hits, three runs and five RBIs. Taylor had three hits, three runs and four RBIs.

Corey Ray and Jacob Nottingham had two hits each for the Missions.

Trey Supak pitched the first four innings for the Missions and did not get a decision. He allowed three runs on five hits.

Missions reliever Jake Faria (1-0) pitched the fifth and sixth innings to earn the win. He did not allow a run on one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.

The San Antonio Missions' Tyrone Taylor had three hits including a home run Saturday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyrone Taylor had three hits including a home run Saturday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

Missions beat OKC to stay close in playoff chase

The San Antonio Missions' Tyler Austin (right) and Tyrone Taylor celebrate after Austin's two-run homer in the third inning on Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyler Austin (right) and Tyrone Taylor celebrate after Austin’s two-run homer in the third inning on Friday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions got key hits and shutout pitching through eight innings to beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-2 on Friday at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions remain 1 1/2 games behind the Round Rock Express in the Pacific Coast League American Southern Standings. Round Rock beat New Orleans 3-2 on Friday.

Tyler Austin hit a two-run homer in the third inning, his second home run and fourth extra-base hit since joining the Missions on Aug. 16.

Nate Orf drove in the Missions’ first run with an RBI single in the second inning.

Troy Stokes Jr. added an RBI single in the sixth inning to bring in the Missions’ final run.

Missions starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson (8-2) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his season ERA to 3.34.

Angel Perdomo and Miguel Sanchez combined to pitch a scoreless sixth inning. Freddy Peralta kept the Dodgers scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Dodgers scored both of their runs in the top of the ninth off of Missions reliever Ray Black.

Missions’ Tuffy Gosewisch plays 1,000th minor league game

San Antonio Missions catcher Tuffy Gosewisch at Wolff Stadium on Friday, playing in his 1,000th minor league game. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions catcher Tuffy Gosewisch at Wolff Stadium on Friday, playing in his 1,000th minor league game. – photo by Joe Alexander
It’s late in the season and the San Antonio Missions are short-handed at catcher.

David Freitas is hitting almost .400 but is on the injured list. Jacob Nottingham has played a lot of innings over a long hot Texas summer.

So the Missions turned to Tuffy Gosewisch, who started two of their last three games.

Gosewisch has played in only 42 games this season. But one summer doesn’t tell you the story of the experience he brings to the team.

The 32-year-old catcher had been in pro baseball since being an 11th-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies 14 years ago. He has spent time in the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners, playing a combined 137 games in bigs from 2013-2017.

And after playing all of last year and this year in Triple-A, Gosewisch played in his 1,000th minor league game on Friday night at Wolff Stadium in the Missions’ 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Brewers’ Freddy Peralta dominates for Missions at Wolff Stadium

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Freddy Peralta pitching for the San Antonio Missions on Friday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Brewers reliever Freddy Peralta pitching for the Missions on Friday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Freddy Peralta took the mound for the San Antonio Missions on Friday in his first appearance at Wolff Stadium.

The 5-foot-11, right-hander pitched two scoreless innings, gave up two hits and struck out five with no walks. The Missions beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-2.

Three days earlier, in his Missions debut, Peralta allowed one run in one running in a road game against the Iowa Cubs.

Peralta appeared in 47 games for the Brewers over the last two seasons. He had an 11-7 record and three saves with a 4.98 ERA. He was optioned to the Missions on Aug. 18.

Missions outfielder and Brewers prospect Tyrone Taylor

Tyrone Taylor playing for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium during the 2019 season. - photo by Joe Alexander
Tyrone Taylor playing for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium during the 2019 season. – photo by Joe Alexander
Tyrone Taylor is currently one of the hottest batters in the San Antonio Missions’ lineup.

The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting .254 with 10 home runs. The first three months of Taylor’s season were slowed by nagging injuries. August has been a different matter.

Taylor has raised his average 24 points in 16 days. He is hitting .370 in the last 14 games (20-of-54) with three home runs and 13 RBIs. He has eight two-hit games in that stretch and is currently on a six-game hitting streak.

A second-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012, Taylor batted .278 with 20 home runs last season at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Bubba Derby helps Missions overpower Baby Cakes

Bubba Derby was the San Antonio Missions' starting pitcher and also drove in a run on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Bubba Derby was the San Antonio Missions’ starting pitcher and also drove in a run on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Bubba Derby had a run-scoring double and also started off a combined shutout as the San Antonio Missions beat the New Orleans Baby Cakes 8-0 Sunday at Wolff Stadium.

Derby (6-7) pitched five scoresless innings to earn the win. He allowed three hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Miguel Sanchez followed with 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout. Angel Perdomo pitched the last 2 1/3 innings, allowing one hit with four strikeouts and one walk.

Tyler Austin, playing first base and starting for the second time with the Missions, had two hits including a fourth-inning home run. Troy Stokes Jr. and Corey Ray also had two hits each.

Miguel Sanchez was the first pitcher out of the San Antonio Missions' bullpen on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Miguel Sanchez was the first pitcher out of the San Antonio Missions’ bullpen on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Angel Perdomo entered in the seventh inning and finished the game on the mound for the San Antonio Missions on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Angel Perdomo entered in the seventh inning and finished the game on the mound for the San Antonio Missions on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

Tyler Austin makes Missions debut

Tyler Austin bats at Wolff Stadium on Friday in his first game with the San Antonio Missions. - photo by Joe Alexander
Tyler Austin bats at Wolff Stadium on Friday in his first game with the San Antonio Missions. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Milwaukee Brewers signed infielder Tyler Austin on Friday and assigned him to the San Antonio Missions.

Austin made his Missions debut as a pinch-hitter on Friday night in the Missions’ 4-2 loss to the New Orleans Baby Cakes at Wolff Stadium. Austin flied out in his only action of the game.

Austin played in 70 games this season for the San Francisco Giants. He batted .185 with 8 home runs.

On Aug. 9, the Giants sent him outright to the Sacramento River Cats. Austin elected free agency, making him available to the Brewers organization.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander has also played in the majors for the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. He has played in 192 major league games and batted .220 with 32 home runs.

Brewers pitcher Brent Suter makes Wolff Stadium debut for Missions

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter playing for the San Antonio Missions in a rehab appearance on Thursday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Brewers pitcher Brent Suter playing for the Missions in a rehab appearance on Thursday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter is working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

As part of his rehab, Suter is currently with the San Antonio Missions. The 6-foot-5 left-hander made his second Missions appearance and first time on the mound at Wolff Stadium on Thursday night.

Suter threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit with three strikeouts and one walk. His fastest pitches were recording about 87 and 86 miles per hour on the stadium radar.

The Missions lost to the New Orleans Baby Cakes 5-3 in 10 innings on Thursday.

Suter pitched 2.0 scoreless innings four days earlier in a road game in El Paso.

Before coming to San Antonio, Suter appeared in two games in Double-A Biloxi.

The 29-year-old from Harvard pitched for the Brewers the three previous seasons. Last year he had an 8-7 record with a 4.44 ERA in 20 games (18 starts).

  • Washington Post: Brent Suter set out to save the planet
  • CBS Sports: Brewers’ Brent Suter: Continues progressing in rehab



    • Brewers pitcher Ray Black during his time with the Missions

    Ray Black pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
    Ray Black pitching for the San Antonio Missions at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
    Ray Black’s tenure with the San Antonio Missions was short.

    The 29-year-old relief pitcher was called up to the majors on Wednesday after appearing in four games for the Missions, including two games at Wolff Stadium.

    The 6-foot-5 right-hander pitched 4.0 innings for the Missions and did not allow a run. He gave up one hit with five strikeouts and one walk.

    Black was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday and made his Brewers debut the same day. He pitched a scoreless sixth inning in a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed one hit with no walks or strikeouts.

    Black came to the Brewers organization in the July 31 trade that sent the Missions’ Mauricio Dubon to the San Francisco Giants organization.

    Before being traded, Black appeared in 23 games for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats with a 5.16 ERA and two games for the Giants with a 4.50 ERA.

    Last season he pitched in 26 games in relief for the Giants with a 6.17 ERA, and also 26 games in relief at Triple-A Sacramento with a 3.16 ERA.

    Uniform note:

    In the Missions’ Aug. 3 home game, Black wore No. 38.

    In the Missions’ Aug. 5 home game, Black wore No. 20.