FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
When Yogi Berra famously stated, “It ain’t over til it’s over,” he wasn’t speaking specifically about the East Texas Pump Jacks.
But he may as well have been.
The Pump Jacks staged another comeback to steal a victory from the visiting McKinney Marshals, 3-2, at Driller Park on Fireworks Friday.
The winning rally began with the Jacks down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth. Down 2-1, J.D. Dunn dropped a ball into right-center field that he stretched into a double. Garrett Smith followed with a grounder to third that elicited an errant throw from McKinney third baseman Mike Walker. The wild throw allowed Dunn to score the tying run and left Smith on second base.
After Adam De La Garza walked, Pat McCrory stepped to the plate. He hit another hot grounder to third that was bobbled by Walker. When Walker gathered the ball, he again made an errant throw that drew first baseman Nick Schwaner off the bag. McCrory came barreling up the line at full speed and crashed into Schwaner, sending both bodies twirling and twisting in a cloud of dust. McCrory was safe at first, and Smith danced home with the winning run.
The Pump Jacks had first gotten on the board just one inning before. Dunn Led off with a double and Smith followed with a groundout. De La Garza walked, then both he and Dunn advanced on a passed ball. McCrory picked up a walk to load the bases for Josh Riley. Riley drew his third walk of the game, forcing in Dunn and getting the Jacks on the board, 2-1. East Texas was unable to push another run across with the bases loaded, which set the stage for the wild ninth inning.
McKinney had built a 2-0 lead despite strong pitching by the Pump Jacks, Justin Murray started and went seven innings, allowing six hits and one run. He didn’t walk a batter and notched eight strikeouts. His only blemish was a fifth-inning solo homer by Digger Towe. Otherwise, he retired seven straight Marshals to start the game, and seven straight again before a harmless double in the seventh.
Taking the hill for the first time this summer to open the eighth inning was Gladewater native Hunter Harris. The University of Texas product has been recuperating from shoulder and elbow ailments, but family and friends were on hand to watch him make his first appearance in a Pump Jacks uniform. In one inning, he struck out one batter but he was also touched for a solo homer that gave the Marshals a 2-0 lead.
After the Jacks got on the board in the home half of the eighth, Aaron Wilkerson came on for the ninth inning. Wilkerson (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning, setting down three in a row after walking the leadoff batter.
The Jacks managed to pick up the win despite being outhit by McKinney, 7-3. Dunn posted two doubles and scored twice, and Matt Curry notched a double for the only other hit by the home team. The Pump Jacks drew nine walks on the night, though, led by De La Garza and Riley with three free passes each.
The Jacks now embark on a six-game, seven-day road trip that will take them on a tour of the league. First stop is a weekend series in Coppell to face the Copperheads. After a day off on Monday, the Jacks will visit the Brazos Valley Bombers (Tuesday and Wednesday) before finishing the trip against McKinney (Thursday and Friday).
The Pump Jacks will return to East Texas next Saturday, July 19. Upon their return, fans will have a chance to pick up a new giveaway at the ballpark – plus some autographed memorabilia. On Saturday, July 19, the Pump Jacks will be giving away ThunderStix – the logo-emblazoned inflatable noisemakers made famous at sporting events around the globe – courtesy of the Kilgore News Herald. The first 500 fans will receive a pair of ThunderStix featuring the Pump Jacks logo on one side and the Kilgore News Herald’s logo on the other.
Fans will have a chance to pick up some great Pump Jacks autographed memorabilia as well on Saturday. The Jacks will be giving away a select number of team-signed baseballs and autographed bats throughout the game. Four Pump Jacks players have already been drafted by Major League teams, and it’s quite possible that anyone on the Jacks can follow in the footsteps of Hunter Pence and Clay Buchholz from the TCL to Major League stardom. This is your chance to pick up autographed memorabilia from the Pump Jacks inaugural season, so don’t miss it!
Next Sunday, July 20, the Jacks will host Family Night for the second game of their series against the Copperheads. Pump Jacks Family Night offers fans a family four-pack of grandstand tickets for just $12 – up to 40% off the regular price of the tickets. Fans also have the option of adding a family-pack of meals – including hot dogs, soft drinks, and chips for four – for an additional $13. That’s four tickets for just $12, or four tickets and four meals for a total of $25, making Family Night the best entertainment deal in East Texas!
The Jacks will then take on the Brazos Valley Bombers for a two-game set on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 22 and 23. On Tuesday night, Pump Jacks fans can enjoy Two Dollar Tuesdays, when the team will offer discounts on select meals, food, and drinks, discounting each one to just two dollars. And on Wednesday, show your colors for Pump Jacks Pride Wednesdays. Fans that wear their Pump Jacks gear on Wednesday nights will receive half-price grandstand tickets for the game. Wear a shirt, bring your cap, or even make your own gear to prove you’re part of Pump Jacks Nation, and you’ll get in for half price at the gate.
Tickets for 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.
