Tag: Phillip Wellman

Missions announce 2023 staff; former manager Wellman promoted to Triple-A

San Antonio Missions manager at San Diego Padres 2022 spring training on a back field at the Padres' facility in Peoria, Arizona. - photo by Joe Alexander
Phillip Wellman, shown at 2022 San Diego Padres’ spring training, spent five seasons as the San Antonio Missions’ manager – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Diego Padres on Wednesday announced the field staff for the 2023 San Antonio Missions.

Former Missions manager Phillip Wellman will be the 2023 manager for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. He spent five seasons at the helm in Double-A San Antonio.

Luke Montz will take over as manager of the Missions. He spent the last season as a manager in the Red Sox organization. Montz spent 13 seasons as a professional catcher.

Jeff Andrews is the Missions’ new pitching coach. He spent the last two seasons as pitching coach with the Double-A Frisco Rough Riders. He was the pitching coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008.

Pat O’Sullivan is San Antonio’s new hitting coach. This is his sixth season coaching in the Padres’ organization. He spent the last two seasons as hitting coach at Class A Lake Elsinore.

Former Missions player Felipe Blanco returns to the team as bench coach. He saw action in San Antonio in parts of 2016 and 2017. He was part of the coaching staff at Lake Elsinore the last three seasons.

Hooks’ big inning sinks Missions

Esteury Ruiz, catching a fly ball near the right-field line, had the San Antonio Missions' only RBI in Friday's loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Esteury Ruiz, catching a fly ball near the right-field line, had the San Antonio Missions’ only RBI in Friday’s loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions and Corpus Christi Hooks got solid pitching for most of Friday night.

The Hooks made the top of the fifth inning the exception. They broke out for seven runs in the fifth as they beat the Missions 9-2 at Wolff Stadium.

Corpus Christi’s Ross Adolph hit a three-run homer and Scott Manea and Dave Hensley had run scoring hits as part of the top of the fifth. The surge put the Hooks in front 8-0 and it was never close after that.

The Missions’ runs came on an RBI ground-out by Esteury Ruiz in the bottom of the sixth and a Hooks error on an Olivier Basabe grounder in the ninth.

Missions starting pitcher Matt Waldron held the Hooks to one run over the first four innings but got roughed up in the fifth. He went 4 1/3 innings and was tagged for seven runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Waldron is 0-3 with the Missions since being promoted from Class A.

Hooks starter Joe Record (4-1) went six innings and allowed one run to get the win. Hooks reliever Cesar Rosado went the final three innings and allowed only one unearned run.

Missions manager Phillip Wellman has missed back-to-back games. Missions radio reported he was serving a two-game suspension and is expected back for Saturday’s game.

Allen Cordoba, Jose Azocar have key hits in 10th inning as Missions beat Sod Poodles

Allen Cordoba (left) and Jose Azocar celebrate after Azocar drove in Cordoba with the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning as the San Antonio Missions beat the Amarillo Sod Poodles 5-4 on Tuesday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Allen Cordoba (left) and Jose Azocar celebrate after Azocar drove in Cordoba with the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning.
Allen Cordoba drove in the tying run in the 10th inning and then scored the game-winner on a hit by Jose Azocar as the San Antonio Missions beat the Amarillo Sod Poodles 5-4 Tuesday at Wolff Stadium.

The game was tied 3-3 after nine innings. The Sod Poodles scored in the top of the 10th to take a 4-3 lead.

Cordoba led off the bottom of the 10th with Juan Fernandez on second base. Cordoba doubled to bring in Fernandez and tie it 4-4. Cordoba got to third base on a passed ball.

Azocar’s hit to center brought Cordoba home from third to end the game.

In between Cordoba’s hit and Azocar’s hit, there was plenty of drama. Kelvin Melean lined out for the first out of the inning. Chandler Seagle was called out on strikes – then both Seagle and Missions manager Phillip Wellman were ejected from the game.

That left Cordoba on third base with two outs when Azocar came up to finish it off.

In addition to his winning hit, Azocar also scored two runs.

San Antonio Missions starting pitcher Aaron Leasher didn’t get a decision but had another strong outing. He went six innings and allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. It was his sixth start in a row when he went at least five innings and allowed either zero or one earned run.

Nick Kuzia (2-4) pitched the ninth and 10th innings for the Missions and got the win.