San Antonio Gets Game One

SAN ANTONIO – The Missions snatched away home-field advantage from Midland Tuesday night, winning game one of the Texas League West finals 3-2.

Rich Dorman, who arrived in San Antonio and bolstered a reeling rotation, pitched 7.1 innings of two-run baseball to earn the win. The right-hander struck out ten Rockhounds while allowing six hits and one walk.

The top of the fifth inning proved the difference in the game, where the Missions scored all their runs.

Midland starter Shane Komine started the frame by walking Gary Harris, who reached second on a Jesus Guzman bunt. After stepping up and scoring Harris on a double, Jon Nelson reached third on a Komine wild pitch to catcher Luis Oliveros.

Oliveros scored Nelson on a grounder to third, making the first out in the inning. Ismael Castro then moved the catcher to third base, but was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.

Jaime Bubela knocked in the decisive run, scoring Oliveros on a single to centerfield.

Bubela led the Missions at the plate with two hits, one RBI and a stolen base.

After allowing a Midland run in the fifth, Dorman ran into trouble in the eighth inning. The starter allowed a lead off to Danny Putnam, struck out Mark Kiger and walked Francis Gomez before being pulled. Cesar Jimenez replaced Dorman and pitched an inning, with Renee Cortez entering the game in the ninth with one runner on base.

Cortez and Oliveros made things a little bit more interesting, putting another Rockhound on via a catcher’s interference call, then moved the two runners over with a balk. Cortez then struck out Putnam to secure the win.

After struggling against Midland through most of the season, San Antonio has now reeled off three straight victories against the Rockhounds, dating back to the final two games of the second half.

Game two will be played tomorrow in Midland. Due to the Missions’ victory, San Antonio will get two home games, set for Thursday and Friday.

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