The Missions’ Jake Hager (right) and Jacob Nottingham celebrate after Hager’s walk-off hit. – photo by Joe AlexanderTwice in three days, Jake Hager stepped up to the plate with the game on the line.
Both times Hager came through with a hit that gave the San Antonio Missions a victory.
After producing a walk-off hit on Sunday at Wolff Stadium, Hager did it again Tuesday night.
This time Hager’s single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Missions a 1-0 victory over the New Orleans Baby Cakes.
Under the extra-innings rule, the Missions started the bottom of the 10th with Cory Spangenberg on second base. Nate Orf had a bunt single to advance Spangenberg to third. Jacob Nottingham got an intentional walk to load the bases.
That brought Hager to the plate. He responded with his 12th RBI of the season.
The Missions used five pitchers to combine for the 10-inning shutout. Aaron Wilkerson started and pitched five innings. Alex Wilson (1-0) pitched the top of the 10th inning and got the win. The Missions got the final two outs in the top of the 10th with a double play.
Cory Spangenberg
Jake Hager
Cory Spangenberg
Jake Hager
Jake Hager
Jake Hager
Missions shortstop Mauricio Dubon turns a double play that ended the top of the 10th inning and kept the game scoreless. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Jake Hager drills a game-ending single to center against the Express. – photo by Joe AlexanderJake Hager’s clutch hit brought a sudden end to a game that started two days before.
Hager drove in Cory Spangenberg with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the San Antonio Missions’ 10-9 victory over the Round Rock Express on Sunday at Wolff Stadium.
The game was a continuation of the game suspended Friday night due to weather.
The game resumed Sunday with the Express leading 6-1 in the fourth inning. The Missions scored five runs in the fourth to tie it 6-6.
The Express took a 9-6 lead with three runs in the top of the sixth. The Missions cut it to 9-7 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
The Missions came back for good with a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. Mauricio Dubon led off the inning and eventually scored to cut it to 9-8. Spangenberg doubled to drive in Keston Hiura to tie it.
And at long last, Hager’s line drive single to center scored Spangenberg to end the game.
The resumed game was played as the first game of a doubleheader. The Missions won the second game 6-1.
Nate Orf is congratulated by Missions third base coach Ned Yost IV after hitting a leadoff home run. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe opener of the San Antonio Missions’ eight-game homestand didn’t last long.
The Missions and Round Rock Express were in the middle of the fourth inning Friday night at Wolff Stadium when the game was suspended due to weather. The Express led 6-1.
The Missions’ Nate Orf hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. That came after the Express scored six runs in the top of the first inning.
The game will continue on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Wolff Stadium as the first game of a doubleheader.
David Freitas, like all the Missions’ catchers, also plays first base. – photo by Joe AlexanderAmong the oddities on the roster of the Triple-A San Antonio Missions:
There is currently only one active player on the roster listed as an outfielder and there are four players listed as catchers.
Tyrone Taylor was the Missions’ only active outfielder on Sunday. And he didn’t start in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Dodgers at Wolff Stadium.
Corey Ray and Troy Stokes Jr. are listed on the roster as outfielders, but are both currently on the injured list. Ray was the Missions’ main center fielder to start the season. Taylor played primarily in right, but had been playing center with Ray out.
Sunday’s starting outfielders on Sunday were Jake Hager in left, Cory Spangenberg in center and Nate Orf in right. All three are listed on the roster as infielders.
Spangenberg has seen action all over the field this season. He has played first base, third base, shortstop, left field and now center field.
While the Missions are short on players listed as outfielders, they have four active players listed as catchers: Skyler Ewing, David Freitas, Tuffy Gosewisch and Jacob Nottingham. All four got into the game on Sunday. All four have also gotten work as first basemen this season.
Twice during Sunday’s game, three of them batted in a row and the other was coaching first base. The Missions use a player as a first base coach, so that part of the equation wasn’t unusual.
Freitas was the No. 7 batter in the order on Sunday and played first base. Nottingham was No. 8 in the order and played catcher.
In the fifth inning, after Freitas and Nottingham batted, Gosewisch went to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Ewing was coaching first base.
In the seventh inning, after Freitas and Nottingham batted, Ewing went to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Gosewisch was coaching first base.
Relief pitcher Miguel Sanchez got the win as three Missions pitchers combined for a shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe San Antonio Missions shut out the Oklahoma City Dodgers for the second time in the last three games with a 6-0 victory Saturday at Wolff Stadium.
It was the sixth straight win for the Missions, including the first four games of the current series.
Missions reliever Miguel Sanchez (1-2) entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched 2 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Missions starter Corbin Burnes went 4 2/3 innings, leaving the game one out short of having a chance for the win. He allowed three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Jon Olczak pitched the last two innings.
San Antonio left fielder Cory Spangenberg hit his second home run of the season in the fourth inning.
Mauricio Dubon, Keston Hiura and David Freitas had three hits each for the Missions. Spangenberg, Nate Orf and Jacob Nottingham had two hits each as the Missions finished with 15 hits.
Keston Hiura celebrates as he nears home after hitting his first home run of the game. – photo by Joe AlexanderKeston Hiura hit his sixth and seventh home runs of the season Friday as the San Antonio Missions beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 4-3 at Wolff Stadium.
Hiura hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning off of Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart. Hiura added a solo home run in the seventh inning off of reliever Zach McAllister.
Hiura also doubled and walked. He scored twice and had three RBIs and raised his season batting average to .316.
Missions catcher Jacob Nottingham had an RBI single in the second inning for the team’s other run.
San Antonio starting pitcher Zack Brown earned his first win of the season. He pitched five innings and allowed five hits and one earned run. He struck out five batters and had three walks.
Missions closer Jay Jackson entered the game in the eighth inning with a man on base and no outs. He recorded the final six outs and picked up his third save.
The Missions’ Jake Hager hits a pinch-hit home run with Jacob Nottingham on base in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe San Antonio Missions hit three home runs and scored all their runs in their last two innings at bat in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at Wolff Stadium.
Cory Spangenberg, Nate Orf and Jake Hager homered in the Missions’ 8-3 seven-inning victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The Missions scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Orf hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning. Spangenberg hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Hager hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottum of the sixth.
Missions starting pitcher Bubba Derby lasted five innings and got a no-decision. He allowed three runs in the second inning and held the Dodgers scoreless in his other four innings. Reliever Josh Fields pitched the sixth inning and got his first win of the season.
The Missions’ Nate Orf hits a solo home run in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe Missions’ Cory Spangenberg rounds first base after hitting a home run in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Missions pitchers throw combined shutout in second game
Starting pitcher Burch Smith threw 5 1/3 innings as the Missions beat the Dodgers 3-0 in the second game of the doubleheader.
Smith (3-0) allowed two hits with one walk and stuck out five batters. Donnie Hart came in for Smith in the sixth. Taylor Williams went to the mound in relief in the top of the seventh inning and a runner on base and got the save.
Missions pitcher Burch Smith started Thursday’s second game and got the win against the Dodgers at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Lucas Erceg had two hits including a two-run homer. The Sounds beat the Missions 10-5 Monday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe Nashville Sounds had 10 hits including four home runs to beat the San Antonio Missions 10-5 on Monday at Wolff Stadium.
The Missions play their next seven games on the road beginning Tuesday night against the Memphis Redbirds.
Willie Calhoun, Jett Bandy, Hunter Cole and Matt Davidson homered for the Sounds.
The Missions had 15 hits. Tyrone Taylor had four hits, one RBI and one run scored. Lucas Erceg had two hits including his third home run of the season.
Keston Hiura had a double and a triple. Corey Ray also had two hits.
Lucas Erceg dives into home in the second inning with the Flying Chanclas’ first run of the game. – photo by Joe AlexanderThe San Antonio Missions, playing as the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio, fell to the Memphis Redbirds 6-3 Thursday at Wolff Stadium.
The Missions won the previous two games in the series with ninth-inning rallies.
The Missions briefly led after scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Nate Orf had an RBI double, Cory Spangenberg had an RBI single and Jacob Nottingham had an RBI double.
The Redbirds tied it 3-3 with a run in the top of the third and took the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh.
