SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Aug. 29, 2026) — Early offense and a season-high 5.1 innings from starter Fernando Sanchez allowed the San Antonio Missions (24-32) to snap their seven-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Springfield Cardinals (37-19). Homers from Braedon Karpathios and Albert Fabian supported the effort from Sanchez that also stopped Springfield’s 10-game winning streak.
Karpathios banged the very first pitch of the game off the left field foul pole, a loud way to give the Missions a 1-0 lead against Cardinals starter Blake Aita. The Missions continued to attack Aita in the first when Romeo Sanabria singled home Ryan Jackson to make it 2-0 Missions.
For the first time all week, the Missions held Springfield off the board in the first thanks to Sanchez. This allowed the Missions to gain real momentum offensively.
In the third, Fabian rocketed a ball over the right field fence. His two-run shot doubled the Missions’ lead to 4-0. That grew again on Sanabria’s RBI single, his third of the night, which provided San Antonio a 5-0 lead.
Springfield’s first real threat arrived in the bottom of the fourth. A Trey Paige run-scoring single got the Cardinals on the board, and they loaded the bases on Sanchez. After a mound visit, Sanchez forced Chase Heath to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, quickly ending the threat.
In the fifth, the Missions added a run on a big Cardinals error. After Fabian singled, Kai Roberts looked to bunt him over. His attempt came right back to reliever Nolan Sparks, who bobbled the ball before sailing it into right field. Fabian scored all the way from first and gave the Missions their run right back along with a 6-1 lead.
Sanchez secured a season-high by recording an out in the sixth inning for the first time all season, but he also allowed Springfield to load the bases once more. The Missions turned to Johan Moreno, whose first pitch out of the bullpen induced Jon Jon Gazadar into yet another inning-ending double play as the Missions this time went around the horn.
Moreno tossed a crisp seventh and then escaped trouble in the eighth to maintain San Antonio’s five-run advantage into the ninth inning. That’s where Josh Mallitz took over and, despite allowing a run, finished off the Cardinals to snap both San Antonio’s seven-game losing streak and Springfield’s 10-game winning streak.
Up Next:
The Missions conclude their six-game series against the Springfield Cardinals Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Catch all the action on Country Legends KKYX, 680 AM, 104.9 FM and kkyx.com.
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The San Antonio Missions are the Double-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The Missions were established in 1888 and have brought affordable family fun to the Alamo City for more than 120 seasons. The 13-time Texas League champions play their home games at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium. For more information and tickets, call 210-675-7275 or visit samissions.com.