Missions Start Second Half Right with 7-1 Victory

NORTH LITTLE ROCK (JUNE 23, 2026) — Behind six strong innings from Eric Yost and a two-homer game for Tirso Ornelas, the San Antonio Missions defeated the Arkansas Travelers 7-1 at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Yost threw six innings for the second straight outing, allowing just two hits. The right-hander walked three straight batters in the fourth inning, but stranded the bases loaded by getting J.T. Arruda to flyout. From that point on, he retired six of the final seven batters he faced, throwing just 76 pitches to get through six.

The Missions offense struck early against Michael Morales, taking a 2-0 lead in the first. After a Francisco Acuña one-out single, Tirso Ornelas ripped a home run to straightaway right field.

Ryan Jackson drove in Kai Roberts with an RBI down the right-field line in the third, extending the San Antonio advantage to 3-0.

In the third, Ornelas launched a home run to deep right-center to make it a 4-0 Missions lead. Ornelas now has 10 home runs this season, and 27 home runs as a Mission in his career.

The Travelers scored their lone run in the fourth. Charlie Pagliarini led off with a home run off Eric Yost. That was one of just two hits for the Travelers in the contest.

In the sixth, the Missions added three more runs. After a Luis Verdugo single, Albert Fabian hit a two-run blast to right for the third Missions’ long ball of the night. San Antonio now has 12 home runs in its last seven games.

That was more than enough for the San Antonio bullpen, which dominated in relief of Yost. Sadrac Franco retired all six batters he faced, concluding his outing with five straight punchouts. Johan Moreno followed with a 1-2-3 ninth, securing the Missions' first victory of the second half.

Up Next:

The Missions continue their series against the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey Stephens Park on Wednesday. First pitch on Wednesday is at 6:35 p.m. Catch all the action on Country Legends KKYX, 680 AM, 104.9 FM and kkyx.com.