Missions win again

Baseman Anthony Contreras admits he got fooled on the pitch. His front foot hit the ground early, throwing off his balance and timing.

All he could do was serve the ball gently into center field. It wasn't the prettiest swing — or the hardest hit — but the result couldn't have been sweeter.

“I'll take it all day,” Contreras said.

His two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning drove in what proved to be the winning run as the Missions won their fifth straight, 6-4 over the Corpus Christi Hooks on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,191 fans at Wolff Stadium.

The victory in the opener of an eight-game homestand was the 10th time the Missions have won in their final at-bat this season.

The only drawback was its timing. Missions players and coaches had long departed the clubhouse by the time Midland had put the finishing touches on a 9-2 victory over Frisco on Sunday night, enabling the Missions (42-19) to clinch the South Division first-half title.

Contreras had a banner game, going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. He is hitting .277 on the season, but .320 with runners in scoring position.

Missions starter Simon Castro didn't allow a hit until the fourth, but was knocked out in the Hooks' three-run fifth.

Reliever Nick Vincent (5-1) got the win in relief. Brad Brach notched his league-leading 16th save.

Notebook: The San Diego Padres have recalled Missions starter Anthony Bass.

The 23-year-old right-hander replaces injured pitcher Aaron Harang, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right foot contusion.

Bass was 6-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 11 starts with the Missions. He is scheduled to make his major league debut tonight against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.