Drillers Lose Close One To Missions

The Tulsa Drillers played the second game of their three-game series in San Antonio Monday night and they out-hit the Missions 8-4.

Unfortunately for Tulsa, San Antonio produced the most runs, posting a 2-1 victory over the Drillers, who stranded 10 base runners in the defeat.

The close loss continued an early season trend for the Drillers. Seven of their first 11 games this season have been decided by a single run. In those games, Tulsa has a 3-4 record.

Monday's narrow loss spoiled another strong outing from starting pitcher Eddie Butler. Butler was tagged with the loss, his first decision of the year, despite surrendering only four hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Butler walked two batters while striking out five. In his three outings this season, the right-hander has posted a 2.41 ERA, but he has yet to collect a win.

The first inning of the loss was a sign of things to come for the Drillers. They loaded the bases with one out on a double by Cristhian Adames and a pair of walks, but Brian Humphries struck out and Jayson Langfels flied out to end the threat without a run scoring.

Butler blanked the Missions on only one hit through the first three innings before getting burned by Rymer Liriano in the bottom of the fourth. With one out and the bases empty, the leftfielder took advantage of the wind blowing out to left field to hit his first home run of the season and give the Missions a 1-0 lead.

They doubled their lead in the seventh when Lee Orr led off with a base hit, before scoring the second run of the game on a two-out triple by Travis Jankowski.

Missions starter Matt Wisler, ranked the #3 prospect in the San Diego Padres minor league system, shut out the Drillers on only three hits through the game's first five innings.

Jesse Hahn threw two scoreless relief innings before the Drillers finally broke though against Dennis O'Grady in the top of the eighth.

Dustin Garneau and Harold Riggins opened the inning with consecutive singles before Joey Wong singled with one out to load the bases. Tyler Massey plated Garneau with a sacrifice fly to cut Tulsa's deficit to one run, but the threat ended when Johnny Barbato struck out Jared Simon.

Barbato worked a quick 1-2-3 ninth to close the game and pick up his fourth save of the year.

Tulsa played the game without the services of Tom Murphy. The catcher was unavailable because of soreness in his shoulder.

The Drillers will close out their first road trip of the season Tuesday night in San Antonio. Dan Winkler (0-1, 1.59 ERA), who opened his last start with six no-hit innings, will take the mound for Tulsa while Josh Geer (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will take the mound for the Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Nelson Wolff Stadium.