Tirso Ornelas drives in Jake Perez with winning run in Missions’ walk-off victory over RockHounds

The Missions celebrate their victory after Tirso Ornelas (second from right) hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. The San Antonio Missions beat the Midland RockHounds 4-3 on a walk-off single by Tirso Ornelas in the ninth inning on Friday, June 23, 2023, at Wolff Stadium. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Missions celebrate their victory after Tirso Ornelas (second from right) hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After going scoreless for the first six innings, the San Antonio Missions rallied to beat the Midland RockHounds 4-3 on Friday at Wolff Stadium.

The Missions scored three times in the seventh to tie the game 3-3. They ended it in the bottom of the ninth. Jake Perez led off the ninth with a bunt single, went to second when Ripken Reyes was hit by a pitch and scored on a walk-off single to right field by Tirso Ornelas.

Ornelas had a run-scoring hit to tie the game in the seventh inning along with the game-winner in the ninth.

Midland took the lead by scoring twice in the first inning and once in the third. San Antonio relievers combined to pitch four scoreless innings to allow the Missions to get back in the game. Nick Hernandez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless, followed by Aaron Leasher going one inning. Jose Quezada pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and got the win.

Missions starter Daniel Camarena pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Missions bats came alive in the seventh inning with RBI singles by Juan Fernandez, Reyes and Ornelas.

Fernandez came in at catcher to start the third inning, replacing Chandler Seagle. Missions catcher Yorman Rodriguez is on the seven-day injured list, so if Seagle goes out with an injury, that would leave Fernandez and Michael De La Cruz to handle that position.

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