The Missions have delivered the same song and dance the past four outings at Wolff Stadium.
However, that is one routine Missions manager Bill Masse hopes becomes a continuing performance.
The Missions stuck to the script Wednesday afternoon by blending timely hitting and sound defense with a solid outing from pitcher Steve Garrison in a 4-1 victory over Corpus Christi.
In extending the Missions’ winning streak to four games, Garrison allowed four hits and did not walk a batter through seven innings. The offensive heroics came from Kyle Blanks’ RBI single in the first, Craig Cooper’s fourth-inning home run and Seth Johnston’s two-run blast in the sixth.
“I feel like I’ve been saying the same thing the past four days,” Masse said. “We’re getting good pitching, the defense is great and we’re scoring enough runs. And the scores have been about the same. But I wouldn’t mind saying that all year. The guys are just putting it together.”
Wednesday was History Day for schoolchildren at Wolff Stadium, and the Missions were close to creating a little of their own as they were closing in on what could have been a team-record fourth-straight shutout.
The Missions’ string of 39 shutout innings ended, however, in the ninth inning when Chris Johnson scored on Mitch Einerston’s fly to right field off reliever Jon Ellis.
The play at the plate was close enough for Missions catcher Colt Morton and Masse to question plate umpire Mike Lusky’s call, but even the disappointment of giving up a run failed to spoil the overall mood.
The outing was especially pleasing for Garrison (3-2), who had gone 0-1 with an 8.03 ERA in his past three starts.
Garrison had little trouble against the Hooks, who set a dubious franchise record with 31 scoreless innings before getting the run in the ninth.
“The last three games made me want to come back out here and pitch again,” Garrison said. “I was trying to do too much in my last games. This game, I had better control of the plate and Colt called a great game for me. I was a lot more comfortable.”
Garrison’s effort added to the Hooks’ frustrations.
Eli Iorg ripped a two-out triple in the fourth, but Garrison came back and struck out Lou Santangelo.
For the second-straight game, a Missions catcher turned a bunt into a double play. Morton scooped up Bud Norris’ bunt in front of the plate and zipped a bullet to Sean Kazmar at second. Kazmar fired to first to complete the play.
“Earlier in the season when we were pitching well, we weren’t hitting well, and when we were hitting well, we weren’t pitching well,” Johnston said. “We’re putting it all together. Garrison pitched a great game. Any time he throws like that and we put some runs on the board, we’re going to be in good shape.”