Texas League Newsletter

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1 Texas League Newsletter Vol. XXI, No. 23 September 9-15, 2013

2 Missions win Texas League Championship By John Whisler/ Express-News 9/15/13 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. One more victory. One more celebration. One more Texas League title. In a season in which nothing seemed to come easy, the Missions turned a grand slam by Johan Limonta and five shutout innings from starter Josh Geer into a 5-0 rout of the Travelers on Sunday at Dickey-Stephens Park to claim the 13th Texas League crown in franchise history. The title was the Missions' second in three years and third since 2007, their first season as the San Diego Padres' Double-A affiliate. Less than 24 hours after almost blowing a six-run lead, the Missions won Game 5 in the best-of- 5 series in convincing fashion. They pounded 10 hits, including three each by Robert Kral and Yeison Asencio, while Geer and two relievers blanked the Travelers on four hits. The realities of minor league baseball hampered the Missions before the series even began. The big bat they found to replace what they lost through no fault of their own came from an unlikely source, too. Limonta had spent most of the season on the disabled list and didn't play at all in the TL division series. But he was activated before the championship series to replace Tommy Medica, a lateseason call-up by the Padres, and he came up with the Missions' biggest hit of the season. Limonta's two-out slam in the fourth gave the Missions a five-run cushion and Geer, Matt Wisler and Jeremey McBryde shut down the Travelers in the winner-take-all game at Dickey-Stephens Park. The trio allowed only four hits. Limonta's grand slam was the first home run of the postseason by a team other than the Travelers. It capped an unlikely title for the Missions, who needed five games to beat Corpus Christi in the division series, then won two games while facing elimination at. For full article, go to: Championship php

3 Missions savor difficulty of 13th championship By John Whisler/ Express-News 9/17/13 After the locker-room celebration had died down and the last bottle of champagne had been uncorked Sunday, manager Rich Dauer and his coaching staff finally had a moment to reflect. And catch their breath. The Missions had just beaten the Travelers 5-0 in North Little Rock, Ark., in Game 5 to win the Texas League Championship Series, ending a long and grueling playoff run. We sat down, and we couldn't move, Dauer said. It was draining. No one will ever compare this team to the record-setting, long-ball bashing TL champions of two years ago. But the 2013 Missions enjoyed a unique and improbable season that culminated in the 13th title in franchise history. In April, the Missions began booting the ball at an alarming rate. They led the league in errors and embarrassment. The hitting was spotty, and only a superb pitching staff enabled them to win the second-half crown and qualify for the postseason. They beat the Corpus Christi Hooks in five games including the finale on the road to win the divisional series, then rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the final two games of the championship series against on the road. Probably the biggest pleasure in all of this is knowing how far we came since April, Dauer said. We had a lot of stuff happen, but the guys overcame it all and kept getting better. In May, the locker room at Wolff Stadium flooded in the wake of torrential rains that hit the city. Equipment was destroyed. The team went into a hitting slump, had several key players called up to Triple-A Tucson late in the season, and the usually reliable bullpen faltered down the stretch. The final blow appeared to come when the Missions' best hitter, Tommy Medica, was called up by the parent San Diego Padres after the Corpus Christi series. For full article, go to: php

4 2013 Season Review All Star Season Etches Indelible Mark NWANaturals.com 9/10/13 Springdale, AR - Historic achievements were built-in to the Naturals 2013 All Star Season long before Noel Arguelles took the mound to face the Midland Rockhounds on the sixth Opening Day Arvest Ballpark has hosted. But 140 games, and one nationally-televised grand exhibition later, the season that ensued put an indelible mark on franchise history that no one could have predicted. The Naturals were grateful hosts and been afforded the opportunity to provide the memories of the 77 th Annual Texas League All Star Game, presented by Castrol. The game, and the Tyson Foods Home Run Derby were both broadcasted nationally on Time Warner Cable Sports and featured seven representative of the host city: 1B Matt Fields, SS Orlando Calixte, INF Angel Franco, INF Rey Navarro, OF Roman Hernandez, INF Mitch Canham, RHP Santiago Garrido, and RHP Yordano Ventura. The festivities formally kicked off at the South Indoor Club at Razorback Stadium which featured a discussion with Royals Hall of Famer Willie Wilson. The next day the Texas League All-Star and Club Executives took park in a myriad of events in Northwest including 18-holes at the Springdale Country Club and a Fortune-100 tour of the Walmart Home Office and Tyson Foods Headquarters. Naturals Slugger Matt Fields sat atop the Home Run leaderboard for much of the season, and as a late replacement, clubbed 23 homeruns in two rounds en route to winning the Tyson Foods Homerun Derby. Top Minor League Prospect and eventual League MVP George Springer belted two homeruns for the South Division All-Stars and took home MiLB.com's Top Star Award as the game's MVP. Individual achievements also highlighted the 2013 campaign. On June 27 th at Arvest Ballpark, Right-hander Brooks Pounders tossed the first complete-game No-Hitter in Naturals History. Matt Fields and Relievers Zach Jackson and Jon Keck made Naturals history in three different categories. On August 20 th in Springfield, Matt Fields hit his thirtieth homerun of the year breaking Clint Robinson's three-year-old Single Season Homerun Record. He finished with 31. Left-hander Zach Jackson established the Naturals new Single Season Saves record by converting 21 opportunities shattering RHP Chris Hayes' 2008 mark of 15 saves. Left-hander Jon Keck set the new appearances mark by pitching in 45 games this season, two more than LHP Brendan Lafferty's total from a year ago. For full article, go to: =news_t1350&sid=t1350

Texas League Championship Series Missions vs. Travelers defeats 3-2 Game One: 0 @ 1 Box Score: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?

Brandon Hynick, who allowed just one run on four hits.

5 Texas League Championship Series Missions vs. Travelers defeats 3-2 Game One: 1 Box Score: Tuesday, September 10: L, fell 1-0 at in the opening game of the Texas League Championship Series despite a complete game effort by starter Brandon Hynick, who allowed just one run on four hits. Hynick gave up the lone run of the contest in the second inning, when right fielder Yeison Asencio poked a two-out double just inside the bag down the third base line, then scored on catcher Austin Hedges' single up the middle. In the third, Hynick loaded the bases with one out before getting out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout. Over his final five frames, the ace was perfect, recording six of his eight strikeouts in the game. Offensively, the Travelers managed just four hits. Their best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fourth, when first baseman C.J. Cron led off with a ground rule double to right-center before advancing to third on designated hitter Robbie Widlansky's groundout to second. When Jimmy Swift followed with a grounder up the middle, Cron held his ground as San Antonio second baseman Cory Spangenberg ranged to his right, making an off-balance throw that beat Swift by a step for the second out of the inning. Third baseman Kaleb Cowart drew a two-out walk, before Travis Witherspoon lined out to right, ending the threat and the inning. In the game, Swift, right fielder Randal Grichuk and left fielder Cyle Hankerd were the only Trav's to join Cron in the hit column. Tuesday, September 10: W, 1-0 vs. A stellar effort by starter Matt Wisler helped propel the Missions to a 1-0 win over in the opening game of the Texas League Championship Series. Four pitchers combined to toss a four-hit shutout, beginning with Wisler (1-0), who earned the win after allowing just three hits and three walks over six and two-thirds shutout innings. The young right-hander struck out six in the contest, including five of the last nine batters he faced. Following Wisler, who was under a strict 90-pitch limit in his final start of the season, Ryan Kelly struck out the only batter he faced to finish the seventh. Right-hander Leonel Campos gave up one hit and struck out two in a scoreless eighth, before closer Jeremy McBryde earned his second save of the postseason, striking out one in a perfect ninth. The Missions got their lone run of the game in the bottom of the second, when right fielder Yeison Asencio poked a two-out double down the left field line, then scored when catcher Austin Hedges followed with an RBI single up the middle. managed just four hits in the contest, second baseman Cory Spangenberg and shortstop Jeudy Valdez each singled to account for the remaining Missions hits.

6 Game Two: 0 Box Score: Wednesday, September 11: W, starter Michael Roth led the Travelers to a series tying 1-0 win at in the second game of the Texas League Championship Series. After falling 1-0 in the opening game of the Series, the Travelers exacted a measure of revenge behind a strong effort by Roth (2-0), who earned his second win of the postseason after tossing seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk, while striking out two. Following Roth, right-hander David Carpenter notched two strikeouts in a perfect eighth. Closer Mike Morin wrapped up the game, earning his third save of the season after tossing a perfect ninth, striking out one. In Game One of the series, the Missions plated the lone run of the contest with a two-out rally in the second inning. In Game Two, it was the Travelers who used a twoout rally in the second inning to score the lone run of the contest. After third baseman Kaleb Cowart was thrown out at second attempting to stretch a single to left, centerfielder Travis Witherspoon drew a two-out walk, advanced to third on catcher Carlos Ramirez' single to center field, then scored on right fielder Randal Grichuk's RBI single. It is just the second time in Texas League history that the Championship Series has had back-to-back 1-0 decisions, the first coming in games four and five of the 1957 Series between Dallas and Houston, with Dallas winning both. Wednesday, September 11: L, 1-0 vs. After earning a 1-0 win in game one of the Texas League Championship Series, experienced the flip side of the same coin in game two, falling 1-0 to despite a strong effort by starter Eddie Bonine (1-1). The veteran knuckle-baller took the loss after tossing eight innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits and three walks, while striking out three. Right-hander Tim Sexton followed with a perfect ninth, striking out one. For the second game in a row, the Missions struggling offense managed just four hits, two of which came in the bottom of the second after the Travelers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the frame. Third baseman Jake Blackwood led off with a single to center, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. When designated hitter Austin Hedges poked a one-out single to right, Blackwood was caught attempting to score from second, before Rocky Gale grounded out to end the inning. The Missions' final threat came in the bottom of the fifth, when right fielder Yeison Asencio ripped a lead off double into the left field corner. Unfortunately for, Hedges flied out before consecutive groundouts ended the inning. Game Three: 4 Box Score: Friday, September 13: L, For the third game in a row, the Missions struggled to find an offensive spark, losing to the Travelers 4-1 after collecting just six hits, two of them doubles by centerfielder Rico Noel. The Missions broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth, when third baseman Jake Blackwood scored the missions lone run on a wild pitch. In the losing effort, Noel also stole his first base of the postseason, and 60 th of the year. On the mound, starter Donn Roach (0-1) took the loss after tossing five and one third innings, allowing three runs on four his and one walk, while striking out five. Right-hander Tim Sexton followed, allowing one run on two hits and one walk over one and one third innings, before left-hander Jeff Ibarra retired the only batter he faced to finish the seventh. In the eighth, Matt Lollis allowed one hit and recorded one strikeout in a scoreless eighth.

7 Friday, September 13: W, 4-1 vs. First baseman C.J. Cron s two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth was the difference in the Travelers 4-1 win over. With the win, is just one win from clinching the Texas League Championship. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, right fielder Randal Grichuk hammered a double to left, advanced to third on second baseman Taylor Lindsey s sacrifice bunt, then scored the tying run on left fielder Cyle Hankerd s RBI single to shortstop. Cron followed with a homer, his third of the postseason. The Trav s pushed their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh, when centerfielder Travis Witherspoon pushed a bunt past the pitcher for a one-out single, then scored on Grichuk s triple to center field. On the mound, starter Mark Sappington did not factor in the decision after tossing five scoreless innings. The right-hander gave up four hits and four walks, while striking out one before Ryan Chaffee (1-0) earned his first win of the postseason. Chaffee gave up one run on two hits and two walks, before Nick Maronde recorded two strikeouts in a perfect seventh. In the eighth, David Carpenter allowed one walk and struck out one in a scoreless eighth, before Mike Morin earned his fourth save of the postseason after striking out one in a perfect ninth. Game Four: 5 Box Score: Saturday, September 14: W, evened the Texas League Championship Series with a 6-5 win at. The Missions broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third, when designated hitter Austin Hedges lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring centerfield Rico Noel. In the fourth, pushed their lead to 3-0 when left fielder Adam Buschini poked a sac-fly to left, and catcher Rocky Gale executed a successful suicide squeeze that scored right fielder Yeison Asencio, who had cracked a double earlier in the frame. The Missions upped their lead to 6-0 in the top of the fifth, when Asencio ripped a three-run triple. On the mound, starter Juan Oramas (1-0) earned his first win of the season after tossing six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk, while striking out seven. Right-handers Ryan Kelly and Tim Sexton each allowed two runs and retired one hitter in the seventh, before Leonel Campos came on in relief. Campos finished the seventh, then gave up one run in the eighth, when he struck out the side. Closer Jeremy McBryde earned his third save of the postseason after striking out one in a perfect ninth. Saturday, September 14: L, 6-5 vs. After a 6-5 loss to, will square off with the Missions in a series deciding game five. The Travelers fell behind 6-0 before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the seventh. After left fielder Cyle Hankerd was hit by a pitch to begin the uprising, first baseman C.J. Cron ripped a run-scoring double to right. With two outs, third baseman Kaleb Cowart drew a walk before centerfielder Travis Witherspoon's RBI double to left. Pinch-hitter Ryan Jones followed with a two-run single to left that capped the rally. In the bottom of the eighth, Cron plugged a solo homer to right that cut the Missions lead to one. On the mound, starter Lay Batista (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and one walk over four and two-thirds innings, while striking out one. Elvin Ramirez wrapped up the fifth, before Matt Oye tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Right-hander Caleb Graham followed, striking out two in a scoreless eighth before lefty Nick Maronde struck out the side in a perfect ninth.

8 Game Five: 0 Box Score: Sunday, September 15: W, A dramatic and surprising grand slam by Johan Limonta int he fourth inning led to a 5-0 win for. The victory clinched the come-from-behind win in the best-of-five series and delivered to the Missions their 13th Texas League Championship. Limonta, who had not hit a home run since July 5, had not played in the Missions Division Series versus Corpus Christi, was placed on the active roster at the start of the Championship round after San Diego promoted first baseman Tommy Medica to the Major Leagues. Leading 1-0 in the top of the fourth, a fielding error on Adam Buschini s grounder up the middle loaded the bases and extended the inning for Limonta, who hammered his base clearing homer to right center. The Missions opened the scoring in the top of the first, when second baseman Cory Spangenberg roped a one-out double, then scored on designated hitter Robert Kral s double to left. The double broke a string of 23 consecutive hitless at-bats for Kral, who went 3-for-4 in the contest. On the mound, starter Josh Geer (2-0) earned his second win of the postseason after tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and no walks, while striking out three. Following Geer, Matt Wisler made a rare relief appearance, striking out three over three perfect innings, before Jeremy McBryde wrapped up the game, allowing one hit and striking out two in the ninth. Geer, who won game five in both postseason series, also posted a win in game one of the Missions successful Championship series victory over Springfield in Sunday, September 15: L, 5-0 vs. With a 5-0 loss to, came up just short of a Texas League Championship. The Travelers struggled offensively in the contest, managing just four hits, including a second-inning double by shortstop Jimmy Swift. Also contributing singles were second baseman Taylor Lindsey, left fielder Cyle Hankerd, and centerfielder Travis Witherspoon. On the mound, starter Brandon Hynick (0-2) took the loss after tossing five innings, allowing five runs (just one earned) on seven hits and no walks, while striking out two. After allowing one run in the top of the first, Hynick settled into a groove, working into the fifth without allowing more damage. With runners on first and second and two outs, Hynick induced a grounder up the middle that was mishandled by Swift, extending the inning and loading the bases for first baseman Johan Limonta, who dealt the Trav s a crippling blow when he sent a fly ball into the bullpen beyond the right field fence. Michael Cisco came on in the sixth, tossing two scoreless innings before Ryan Chaffee struck out two in a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Mike Piazza walked one and struck out one without giving up a run.

Season Record Conference Record 8-8 (5 th Place)

Season Record Conference Record 8-8 (5 th Place) Season Record 10-14 Conference Record 8-8 (5 th Place) PLAYOFFS JUNE June 2 (Regional Final) - Sun Prairie 8, Hartford 0 (10-14) At Sun Prairie, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two