Ornelas Homers and Drives in Three as Missions Fall to Amarillo

September 15, 2022 – Texas League (TL) – San Antonio Missions News Release

SAN ANTONIO – Wednesday marked the final Military Appreciation Night for the 2022 season as the Missions hosted the Amarillo Sod Poodles. San Antonio squandered leads twice on Wednesday night on their way to a game two defeat. After leading 3-0, Amarillo scored four runs in the fifth inning. San Antonio scored twice in the seventh to regain the lead. However, the Sod Poodles hit back-to-back homers and scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning. The final score on Wednesday night was 9-5.

Bryce Jarvis was the starting pitcher for the Sod Poodles. He entered Wednesday’s game with an 8.34 ERA against the Missions. San Antonio used the long ball to gain the lead off the right-hander in the first inning. With one out in the frame, Tirso Ornelas hit an opposite-field home run off the top of the left field wall. His seventh homer of the season made it a 1-0 Missions lead.

Henry Henry was the starting pitcher for the Missions. In his third inning of work, he had to pitch out of trouble to maintain the lead. Caleb Roberts began the inning with a double and Andy Yerzy drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Jorge Barrosa attempted a sacrifice bunt but it resulted in Roberts being forced out at third base. Jordan Lawlar grounded into a double play to end the inning.

San Antonio showed off their power again in the third inning and improved their lead to 3-0. Ripken Reyes started off the inning by drawing a walk. Connor Hollis hit an opposite-field home run over the right field wall. For Hollis, this was his ninth long ball of the season.

Similar to Tuesday night’s game, the Sod Poodles stormed back and took the lead in the fifth inning with four runs on four hits. Juan Centeno started off the frame with a double. He advanced to third base on a ground out before Roberts drew a walk. Yerzy drove in Centeno with a double to right field. After striking out the next batter, Lawlar drove in two runs with a base hit to left field. Henry issued a free pass to Roby Enriquez before allowing an RBI single to Deyvison De Los Santos. He was replaced by Edwuin Bencomo following the base hit. Amarillo gained a 4-3 advantage.

San Antonio had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Hollis hit a one-out single and advanced to second base on a ground out from Ornelas. He made it to third base on a wild pitch from Jarvis. Hollis was left stranded after Domingo Leyba…