Two players made their Missions debuts at a time when the rosters are being shuffled.
Raul Brito is a right-handed pitcher who was promoted from the Class A Fort Wayne TinCaps. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings without allowing a run and gave up two hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Brandon Valenzuela is a catcher also promoted from Fort Wayne. He was in Wednesday’s lineup as a designated hitter. The 22-year-old switch-hitter went 0-for-2 with a walk. He reached base in the third inning on an error on a ball hit to third. He walked in the sixth and grounded out to second in the eighth.
Juan Fernandez had two of the Missions’ four hits.
Ray-Patrick Didder had an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to drive in Ripken Reyes with the Missions’ first run.
Ripken Reyes led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single and eventually scored the Mission’ second run on a ground ball by Cole Cummings.
Missions starting pitcher Efrain Contreras took the loss. He went five innings and gave up two runs – both in the first inning and only one earned. He allowed a total of five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
The Missions lost some familiar players on their roster to promotions to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas:
– Outfielder Tirso Ornelas. He batted .273 with 9 home runs and 46 RBIs in 67 games with the Missions this season.
– Right-handed pitcher Nick Hernandez. He had a 3-1 record and 3.18 ERA in 24 relief appearances with 43 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.
– Left-handed pitcher Aaron Leasher. He had a 1-0 record and 0.73 ERA in 10 relief appearances with 9 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.
– Right-handed pitcher Nolan Watson. He had a 3-3 record, 4.08 ERA in 14 games, 12 starts.
