Ripken Reyes homers to give the Missions a 1-0 lead in the first inning.The San Antonio Missions scored the first four runs of the game before falling to the Midland RockHounds 7-5 on Wednesday at Wolff Stadium.
For the second straight night, the Missions shut out the RockHounds over the first five innings.
The Missions got strong pitching early. Starter Daniel Camarena threw three shutout innings. Michel Baez followed by allowing one run over three innings as the Missions built a 4-1 lead after six innings.
Ripken Reyes gave the Missions a fast start by leading off the bottom of the first inning with his fifth home run of the season. Reyes, Jackson Merrill, Korry Howell and Justin Farmer had two hits each and the Missions finished with 12 hits.
The RockHounds turned the game around with four runs in the seventh inning. That included a crucial error by the Missions with two outs followed shortly thereafter by a three-run homer by Max Muncy.
Midland put the game out of reach with a two-run homer by Jack Winkler in the top of the eighth.
Daniel Camarena – Missions
Jackson Merrill – Missions
Juan Fernandez – Missions
Juan Zabala – Missions
Justin Farmer – Missions
Korry Howell – Missions
Marcos Castanon – Missions
Michel Baez – Missions
Ripken Reyes – Missions
The sun sets behind Wolff Stadium on Wednesday night.
Jackson Merrill slides into third base for a triple in his first at-bat in his Missions debut.Jackson Merrill, Marcos Castanon and Brandon Valenzuela all spent most of this season playing in Class A.
Valenzuela joined the San Antonio Missions when he was promoted on June 27. Merrill and Castanon both made their Missions debuts on Friday night at Wolff Stadium.
Valenzuela had the big hit – a two-run homer in the second inning that made it 3-0 – as the Missions beat the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4-2. It was his first home run since joining the Missions.
Korry Howell also hit his first home run of the season with a solo shot in the fourth inning that made it 4-0.
Merrill made a quick impact with a triple in his first at-bat. He scored the Missions’ first run of the game later in the first inning on a double by Juan Fernandez.
Castanon had a double and a walk.
The two newest Missions were next to each other on the infield with Castanon starting at third base and Merrill at shortstop.
Merrill is the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego Padres organization. He played in 68 games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in high Class A and batted .280 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs. Castanon played 77 games for the TinCaps and batted .287 with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Missions starting pitcher Jose Espada went four innings and did not allow a run. Raul Brito was the first pitcher out of the Missions bullpen and turned in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Jose Quezada got the save.
Manager Luke Montz was not with the team. Bench coach Felipe Blanco, who typically coaches first base, was coaching third base and running the team.
