SAN ANTONIO - GAME RECAP

This promised to be a great game as the San Antonio Missions took on 2000 League Champs Round Rock Express. The Missions led the Express by 3 games in the second half standings of the Texas League West so this was to be a battle of two top teams.

Carlos Hernandez, league leader in strikeouts started for Round Rock against Scott Atchison, the Mariners' 49th round draft choice in 1998. Both hurlers were on top of their game in the first 3 innings, as each team only mustered one hit and the game remained scoreless. 

Hernandez pitching

In the 4th, Missions second baseman Craig Kuzmic ended the shutout with a solo shot. Atchison kept going on, yielding only 3 hits through six innings as the game hurried along (the first 6 innings took about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete). 

Atchison pitching

In the top of the 7th, Jason Lane led off with a double (actually a single that was misplayed by centerfielder Kevin Kelly, but the scorer was in a forgiving mood), but Atchison followed with two strikeouts. Barry Wesson came through with a clutch hit and the throw home was not in time - Wesson went to second and then a throwing error (the first of four Mission miscues) allowed him to reach third. Atchison was removed at this point, but reliever Emmanual Ulloa gave up a single and Round Rock had a 2-1 lead. 

The Express added another run in the 8th, and the game continued to the 9th with the Missions down 3-1. Bo Robinson led off with a single, and with 1 out, Brad King pinch hit. On a full count pitch he hammered a ball to left center field - going, going, GONE - the game was tied at 3. 

Silvestre swings

Extra innings were on order, but in the 11th, the rains hit. The umpire, despite pressure from the benches, played through the storm and it was the right decision - the storm quickly ended as the game progressed into the 12th inning, backed by great pitching from both bullpens.

In the 13th, Round Rock had a man on 3rd but he was stranded when Mike Rosamond, recently called up from Lexington, flew out. Finally, in the bottom of the 15th, San Antonio struck. With one out, Kelly and Kuzmic singled, bringing Greg Conners to the plate. On a 1-2 pitch he hit a fly ball deep - easily enough to score the winning run - but the ball kept going until it cleared the fence! A walk-off 3 run homer ending the game after 3:55. Missions win 6-3 and take a 4 game lead over the Express. This was the best minor-league game on the trip and it gets a 9/10.