Sod Poodles Out-Hit, But Don’t Out-Score San Antonio

July 9, 2024 – Texas League (TL)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Amarillo’s comeback attempt fell short in the ninth inning, dropping the series opener in San Antonio, 6-5.

Yu-Min Lin set a season-high in pitches, 91, on his way to 6.1 innings allowing four earned runs and walking none. The Sod Poodles had five extra-base hits, including a double and home run from Matt Beaty. Ivan Melendez also left the yard with a solo shot, his 16th of the year.

Robby Snelling had a nice first inning against Amarillo, striking out a pair in a quick inning. Lin also had a 1-2-3 first inning picking up a strikeout.

Melendez started the second with his Texas League-leading 16th deep fly of the season. J.J. D’Orazio doubled right after. A wild pitch ensued, as well as a walk by Kristian Robinson however, they couldn’t cash in any further. Lin got the first couple outs of the inning but then he hit a batter, allowed a single and two doubles to make it 3-1 heading into the third.

With one out, Tim Tawa doubled, and then Beaty smashed his fourth home run over the right-centerfield wall. This tied the game headed into the home half, where Lin set the side down in order.

Both teams went down in order in the fourth inning.

The Sod Poodles threatened in the fifth when A.J. Vukovich singled after a Jesus Valdez double. With two runners in scoring position and nobody out, Tawa struck out. Omar Cruz replaced Robby Snelling and struck out both Beaty and Melendez, extinguishing the threat. Lin continued to fill up the zone, allowing only a single in the inning.

D’Orazio singled and Caleb Roberts walked, before both moving up on a wild pitch. For the second straight inning, they had second and third and nobody out. Jancarlos Cintron singled in the go-ahead run, making it 4-3. Three strikeouts in a row ended the threat. Lin had another perfect inning.

Melendez and Beaty reached base via walks but couldn’t score. Ray-Patrick Didder homered to lead off the Missions half of the inning, tying up the game. After getting an out, Lin was replaced by Conor Grammes. Grammws gave up a walk, a single, and a double to give San Antonio a 6-4 lead after seven.

Francis Pena came in to pitch and only allowed a soft single to Valdez. Jhosmer Alvarez was tasked with the eighth and worked a clean inning, with the only base runner reaching on a hit by pitch.

Ethan Routzahn came on to get the last three outs for the Missions. Tawa led off and reached on an error and scored on a…