San Antonio Missions Manager Chris Tremie (26) hits ground balls during a practice prior to the season in San Antonio, Texas, Thursday, March, 26, 2026.
Zach Del Bello/San Antonio Express-News
The Missions jumped out of the gate last Tuesday with a season-high in runs to defeat the RoughRiders 12-6.
San Antonio hit four home runs and opened up scoring with a three-run blast to center field by outfielder Braedon Karpathios in the top of the first inning.
Article continues below this ad
But the Missions ultimately fell short of a series victory after dropping both weekend games. Frisco scored four runs in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game in a 7-5 loss for San Antonio, and the Missions fell in Sunday’s series finale.
“We played really well early in the week with some good performances by several players,” Missions manager Chris Tremie said.
The Missions split a six-game series at the Frisco RoughRiders to move to 17-28 on the season. San Antonio is seven games back from Texas League South division leader Midland.
“We were just unable to really execute some pitches and ended up losing 8-1,” Tremie said of Sunday’s game. “But overall, a very positive week.”
Article continues below this ad
Mendez working his way back
Right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez was tagged with Sunday’s loss. In 2 ⅓ innings, Mendez allowed four hits, three earned runs and two walks with five strikeouts.
The No. 3 Padres prospect was reactivated from the 7-day injured list on May 12 and is still trying to regain his footing.
“I think he’s still trying to just kind of get his feet under him and be able to execute pitches like he wants to,” Tremie said. “He is good, he’ll be good. He’s just, right now, still trying to find out where his release point is and where he can get ahead of the count and stay ahead in the count.”
Article continues below this ad
Mendez earned his first win of the season on April 16 after throwing five innings against Midland. In that outing, he allowed two hits, one earned run, two walks with six strikeouts. He is currently 1-1 on the season with a 5.49 ERA in 19 ⅔ innings thrown. Mendez has 24 strikeouts this year with a 1.58 WHIP.
Lizarraga, Koenig deliver on the mound
San Antonio did get some strong outings from some starters earlier in the week. Right-handed pitcher Victor Lizarraga threw six innings in Friday’s 7-6 win over Frisco, allowing seven hits with one earned run.
Lizarraga quickly turned things around in May after a rough start to his season. The 22-year-old recorded a 10.91 ERA in 15 ⅔ innings pitched in April, but he currently has a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings thrown this month.
Article continues below this ad
“He has really done a nice job of mixing his pitches and staying in the zone, getting ahead of the count, and being able to locate his fastball and land his off-speed pitches for strikes,” Tremie said.
The manager also praised Ian Koenig, who became the first Missions pitcher this season to reach seven innings. Koenig struck out six batters and allowed no runs in a 5-1 win for San Antonio last Thursday, an outing that Tremie appropriately described as “efficient.”
“He’s been working extremely hard about being athletic on the mound and executing pitches,” Tremie said.
Koenig spent all of the 2025 season at High-A Fort Wayne before a promotion to Double-A this season. The Padres originally signed Koenig in 2022 to a minor league contract as a free agent out of Cabrillo Junior College in Aptos, California. Koenig is currently 2-4 this season with a 4.31 ERA in 39 ⅔ innings pitched with 30 strikeouts and a 1.18 WHIP.
Article continues below this ad
Up next
The Missions are back home at Wolff Stadium this week for a six-game series against the Corpus Christi Hooks. San Antonio last faced the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate from April 7-12 and went 2-4 in that series. First pitch for Tuesday’s game is set for 7:05 p.m. with starters to be announced.
“I just think if we play the way we have the last two weeks in the series against the teams that we played, and we go and do that against Corpus, I think our results will be better than the last time we played them,” Tremie said. “Looking forward to the series and the improvements these guys have made over the course of the last couple weeks.are starting to show.”
Article continues below this ad