Drillers Fall In Extras

The Tulsa Drillers ended a three-game series in Corpus Christi Saturday night with an extra-inning loss to the Hooks.

After being no-hit through the game's first six innings, Tulsa's bats came to life in the seventh with a pair of runs that tied the game, but the Drillers could not complete the comeback as Preston Tucker's bases loaded hit in the bottom of the 10th gave the Hooks a 3-2 walk-off win.

It was the third extra-inning game of the young season for the Drillers. They are now 2-1 in those games. Overall, their season record fell to 3-6 with the defeat.

The Hooks took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the third against Tyler Anderson. Rene Garcia opened the inning with a base hit and advanced to second when centerfielder Delta Cleary Jr. misplayed the ball. After Garcia moved to third on an infield ground out, he came home on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Fontana.

The Hooks upped their lead to 2-0 with another run in the fifth. Jio Mier led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a balk by Anderson. A one-out single by Delino DeShields scored Mier. It was the first earned run that Anderson had surrendered this season in 9 1/3 innings.

Hooks starting pitcher Brady Rodgers held the Drillers without a hit through five scoreless frames, and reliever Colton Cain worked a hitless sixth inning.

After Cristhian Adames drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, Dustin Garneau ended the no-hit bid with a base hit left off Cain. After Adames moved to third on a botched pickoff attempt, he came home with Tulsa's first run on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Casteel. Just as importantly, Garneau alertly moved to second on the throw home. After Harold Riggins struck out, Garneau scored the game-tying run on a big, two-out hit from Taylor Featherston.

The Drillers missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the ninth inning, loading the bases with no outs. Jared Simon hit a broken bat roller down the third base line, and when he stumbled getting out of the batter's box, the Hooks turned it into a 5-2-3 double play. The threat completely ended when Jayson Langfels was retired on strikes.

The Hooks game-winning rally in the tenth began with a leadoff double by Fontana. After an intentional walk, Matt Duffy tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but it turned into a base hit that loaded the bases. Tucker wasted little time in ending the game, hitting a liner into the right field corner that scored Fontana with the game-winning run.

The rally came against reliever Cole White who had officially joined the Drillers earlier in the day from Triple A Colorado Springs. He replaced Nate Striz who was optioned to Modesto.

Anderson turned in his second strong start of the year for Tulsa. He allowed only five hits and the one earned run in six innings of work. He had two walks and two strikeouts.

Kenny Roberts surrendered three hits and no runs in 1 2/3 innings in relief of Anderson.

The Drillers have now played nine games this season and have yet to score first in any of them.

They now travel to San Antonio where they will begin a three-game series with the Missions Sunday afternoon. The pitching matchup in the opener will have Richard Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) of Tulsa going against James Needy (0-0, 4.50 ERA) of the Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. in the Alamo City.