Drillers Beat San Antonio In 14 Innings

For the second time in three games Friday night, the Tulsa Drillers and San Antonio Missions entered extra-innings in a scoreless deadlock at ONEOK Field. Unlike two days ago, this game ended in the Drillers favor.

Taylor Featherston ended the scoreless marathon when he led off the bottom of the 14th inning with a home run, giving the Drillers a 1-0 victory.

The walk-off homer thrilled a crowd of 8,047, the 11th home sellout of the season for the Drillers. It also ended what was the third longest game in the history of ONEOK Field.

Featherston hit the second pitch from Jeff Ibarra into the Budweiser Terrace in left field. It was the infielder's ninth home run of the year and allowed the Drillers to salvage the third and final game of the three-game series with the Missions.

Both starting pitchers Carlos Hernandez and Leonel Campos were outstanding. Hernandez allowed only four hits and two walks in six shutout innings for the Drillers. Campos did not allow a run in his four innings, surrendering only two hits.

It was more tough luck for Hernandez. The lefthander lowered his ERA to 2.47, but his won-loss record remained at 1-4.

Out of the bullpen for Tulsa, Nelson Gonzalez and Kraig Sitton each pitched two scoreless frames, while Ken Roberts allowed only one hit in three innings. Nate Striz worked a scoreless top of the 14th to pick up his first win of the year.

John Hussey allowed only three hits in four shutout innings in relief of Campos for the Missions. Adys Portillo did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings. Trevor Gott and Michael Dimock combined to hold the Drillers scoreless in innings 11 through 13.

Trevor Story made his Drillers debut in the game, finishing hitless in five at-bats.

The Drillers begin a three-game series with Corpus Christi Saturday evening at ONEOK Field. Ryan Kulik (0-1, 5.14) will make his second start for Tulsa, while Thomas Shirley (5-3, 1.90 ERA) will pitch for the Hooks. It is Mickey Mantle Night with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. and the first 1,500 fans receiving commemorative rings of Mantle's 1956 Triple Crown season.