FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Call it cliché, but such was the case Wednesday night when the East Texas Pump Jacks were defeated by the visiting Coppell Copperheads, 9-2, at Driller Park.
The Copperheads mounted an early lead and broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning. The Jacks put a pair of runs on the board in the sixth inning, but that was all the home team could muster.
Coppell picked up a run in the first and another in the second off of starter Justin Fowler. Fowler recovered to post a scoreless third, but the Copperheads scored another in the fourth and chased the Atlanta Braves draft pick in the fifth inning. Fowler (0-3) pitched four-plus innings, allowing eight hits and six runs, five of them earned. The New Diana native struck out four and walked four.
Hard-throwing Steven Martin came on in relief of Fowler, but his control eluded him Wednesday night. In 1 1/3 innings, Martin walked five and allowed three runs, one of them earned. He gave up three hits and struck out two.
The bright spot on the mound was Kory Cleveland, who was called on to spell Martin with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning. Cleveland worked out of the jam without any further damage, then proceeded to hold the Copperheads hitless the rest of the way. He pitched a total of 3 2/3 innings with no hits and no runs, walking just one and striking out five.
The Pump Jacks got on the board in the sixth inning, loading the bases and pushing a few runners across. With one out, Josh Riley walked, J.D. Dunn beat out a grounder to third for an infield single, and Garrett Smith walked to fill the bases. Logan Moro was hit by a pitch to force in Riley for the Jacks’ first run. Blake Yazel followed Moro’s lead, getting plunked to force in Dunn and make the score 7-2. But Coppell responded with reliever Jared Stafford, who worked out of the jam and retired the next two Pump Jacks to end the threat.
The Jacks put a few runners on in the seventh and another in the ninth, but neither team was able to score in the final three innings.
East Texas struggled again at the plate against Coppell, getting outhit 11-5. Each of the top five players in the lineup – Adam De La Garza, Keenan Duke, Matt Curry, Riley, and Dunn – posted singles on the evening.
The Pump Jacks will now head to McKinney to take on the first-place Marshals Thursday night, opening a home-and-home series that will conclude Friday night at Driller Park. Friday also marks the return of Fireworks Friday, when the Jacks celebrate with a post-game fireworks spectacular. The Pump Jacks have had two fireworks shows so far, each one drawing rave reviews, so don’t miss out on the next Fireworks Friday.
Friday’s game will be the last chance to catch the Jacks for a little while, though. The Pump Jacks open a six-game, seven-day road trip on Saturday. East Texas will take a tour of the league, making a two-game stop in Coppell over the weekend, resting next Monday, then heading to Brazos Valley (Tuesday & Wednesday, July 15 & 16) and McKinney (Thursday & Friday, July 17 & 18).
The Jacks will return to Driller Park for a four-game set beginning a week from Saturday, on July 19.
Tickets for Fireworks Friday and the remainder of the Jacks’ inaugural season schedule are on sale now. Fans may purchase tickets at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online – and printed at home on any home printer – by visiting www.pumpjacksbaseball.com.
Single-game tickets start at $5 each – or $4 for children and seniors – for grandstand general admission tickets. Upper Box seats are $8 each, and Lower Box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service, are only $10 per ticket.
