Lucas Erceg, Tyler Saladino homer as Missions pound Redbirds

The Missions' Tyler Saladino watches his three-run homer sail over the right-field fence in the sixth inning against the Redbirds on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Tyler Saladino watches his three-run homer sail over the right-field fence in the sixth inning against the Redbirds on Sunday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio Missions lashed out 15 hits including two home runs in a 9-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds on Sunday at Wolff Stadium.

Lucas Erceg hit his sixth home run of the season, a two-out solo shot in the second inning.

Tyler Saladino hit his eighth homer of the season with two runners on base in the sixth inning.

Erceg, Saladino and Blake Allemand had two hits each for the Missions.

Missions starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson (2-0) went six innings for the win. He allowed one unearned run on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

It was the fifth straight win for the Missions, including the first four games of the current series against the Redbirds. The teams conclude their series with an early game Monday at 11:05 a.m.

Troy Stokes Jr. homers to rally Missions past Redbirds

The Missions' Troy Stokes Jr. touches the plate after hitting the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning against the Redbirds on Saturday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions’ Troy Stokes Jr. touches the plate after hitting the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning against the Redbirds on Saturday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
Troy Stokes Jr. hit his third home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning as the San Antonio Missions rallied past the Memphis Redbirds 6-4 Saturday at Wolff Stadium.

Stokes’ homer broke a 4-4 tie and put the Missions in front for good.

Cory Spangenberg gave the Missions an insurance run in the eighth inning when he scored from second on a Redbirds throwing error.

Missions reliever Donnie Hart pitched the final out of the game for his second save of the season.

Missions reliever Donnie Hart came on in the ninth inning to get the save Saturday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
Missions reliever Donnie Hart came on in the ninth inning to get the save Saturday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander

Missions edge Redbirds on Tyler Saladino’s walk-off double

The Missions celebrate after Tyler Saladino's walk-off double against the Redbirds on Thursday at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions celebrate after Tyler Saladino’s walk-off double against the Redbirds on Thursday at Wolff Stadium. – photo by Joe Alexander
On a night when he already had three hits including two doubles, Tyler Saladino needed to come through one more time.

The San Antonio Missions trailed the Memphis Redbirds by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Saladino went to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

It looked like Saladino might push over the tieing run when it appeared he was hit by a pitch after the ball bounced. Saladino didn’t get the call.

So Saladino took one more swing. This one produced his fourth hit and third double of the night – and ended the game.

Saladino’s walk-off double drove in Tuffy Gosewisch and Jake Hager to give the Missions a 4-3 victory Thursday night at Wolff Stadium.

Gosewisch had entered the game as a pinch-runner for David Freitas, who started the rally with a one-run walk. Hager, who pinch-hit in the pitcher’s spot, followed with a single. Mauricio Dubon drew a two-out walk to load the bases and set the stage for Saladino.

Missions relief pitcher Jay Jackson (2-1), who entered the game in the eight inning, pitched the top of the ninth and got the win.

The Redbirds had taken a 3-2 lead on a pair of solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Saladino had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning that gave the Missions a 2-1 lead.

The Missions’ Nate Orf scored the first run of the game by hitting his fifth home run of the season in the second inning.