Picture from Mike Lieberman
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
The famous words uttered before every episode of “ABC’s Wide World Of Sports” spoke of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
In the last two games, the East Texas Pump Jacks experienced both, and against the very same opponent.
24 hours after dropping a hard-luck decision to the McKinney Marshals, the Pump Jacks earned a measure of redemption, taking a 5-3 extra-inning victory in McKinney. The Jacks scored two runs in the top of the tenth to up their record to 4-0 in extra inning games.
The win also allowed the Pump Jacks to leapfrog the Brazos Valley Bombers and move into a tie for second place with the Coppell Copperheads. East Texas now sits 4.5 games behind the first-place Marshals.
The Jacks got on the board first, putting up a pair of runs in the third inning after Garrett Smith picked up a leadoff single. One out later, Keenan Duke grounded to the shortstop, who mishandled the ball as he tried to force Smith at second. Pat McCrory grounded out to advance both runners into scoring position. Adam De La Garza, batting third in the lineup for the first time this season, came through with a single to right that scored both Smith and Duke.
McKinney struck back in the home half of the frame, scoring a pair of runs off of starting pitcher Kory Cleveland. Cleveland, making his first start of the season for a pitching staff decimated by defections, allowed one more run in the fourth, but otherwise pitched effectively for the Jacks. He went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and six walks. The Carthage native struck out two on the night.
Down 3-2, East Texas picked up the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. Paige Hodges picked up a one-out single, and one out later Smith did the same. Jared Wondra posted an RBI single that scored Hodges and tied the game. When Duke walked to load the bases, it looked like the Jacks might do more damage and take the lead again, but East Texas was unable to take advantage and the score remained knotted at three.
The Pump Jacks kept the McKinney offense, which erupted for ten or more runs three times in the last week, at bay with some solid work from the bullpen. Steven Martin contributed a pair of scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Matt Shelton followed with a scoreless eighth. When he allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, on came Aaron Wilkerson. Wilkerson was on the hill the previous night, when the Marshals snatched the lone run of the game to steal a victory away from the Pump Jacks. But there was no repeat Friday night, as Wilkerson induced a 5-4-3 double play to erase the runner and send the game into extra innings.
The Jacks found some more magic in the tenth inning. Josh Riley drew a one-out walk, then stole second base. McKinney then walked J.D. Dunn and Hodges to load the bases. Dexter Moreno delivered a long fly ball to center, deep enough to score Riley on the sacrifice and move Dunn to third. With Smith at the plate, the Marshals uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Dunn to score an insurance run, bringing the score to 5-3.
Wilkerson (3-2) retired the McKinney hitters 1-2-3 in the home half of the tenth to close out the victory.
The Jacks outhit the Marshals, 8-7, led by Hodges and Smith, who had two hits apiece. De La Garza posted two RBI, while five different Pump Jacks scored.
The win brings to a close the six-game, seven-day road trip the Pump Jacks embarked on last weekend. East Texas finished the trip with a 4-2 record and on Saturday returns home, where the team sports a winning record on the season.
Upon their return, fans will have a chance to pick up a new giveaway at the ballpark – plus some autographed memorabilia. On Saturday, 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!
On Sunday, 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.
