Missions' Pitching Fans 11 in 2-1 win

Dominant pitching and a key late hit helped San Antonio edge Tulsa 2-1 Monday night at Wolff Stadium.

The much anticipated pitcher's duel between San Antonio's Matt Wisler and Tulsa's Eddie Butler certainly lived up to the hype, despite it being a windy night at the Wolff.

Wisler's night nearly got off to a rocky start when the Drillers loaded the bases in the top of the first with just one out. Fortunately for the Missions, the Bryan, OH native settled down, striking out left fielder Brian Humphries before inducing third baseman Jayson Langfels to hit into an inning-ending fly out to right.

The first inning threat was as close as Tulsa would get to Wisler, who allowed just three hits and three walks, while striking out six in five shutout frames. Wisler (1-0) has pitched to a 2.08 ERA this season with a K:BB ratio of 17:4 in 13 innings.

Butler (0-1) was on top of his game as well, allowing just one hit during his first trip through the Missions lineup. However, the second hit he allowed Monday was costly, as Rymer Liriano's wind-aided homer to right gave San Antonio a 1-0 lead in the fourth. It was Liriano's first dinger of the season.

The Tulsa right hander did not allow another run until the bottom of the seventh when Travis Jankowski (2-for-4) drilled a clutch, two-out RBI triple to right center.

Jankowski's first triple of the season turned out to be a big one, because in the eighth, the Drillers ended the Missions' shutout bid and threatened to do much more. 

Tulsa opened the frame with back-to-back singles by Dustin Garneau and Harold Riggins off reliever Dennis O'Grady. San Antonio Manager Rich Dauer turned to lefty Jeff Ibarra, who was activated off the DL earlier in the day. Ibarra got the first out of the inning when pinch hitter Tim Smalling popped up to second baseman Cory Spangenberg. After a Joey Wong infield single loaded the bases, Ibarra gave up a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyler Massey that trimmed the San Antonio lead to one. Dauer elected to next go to his closer Johnny Barbato, who got the Missions out of the inning by fanning Jared Simon.

Barbato came back out for the ninth, where he set the Drillers down in order for his fourth save of the season.

San Antonio (6-5) and Tulsa (4-7) conclude their three-game series on $2 Tuesday presented by KCWX. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM. RH Josh Geer (0-1, 1.80) gets the ball for the Missions, while the Drillers counter with RH Dan Winkler.