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Buentelloâ??s Jack Caps Jacksâ?? Attack, 10-2

June 27, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks swept away the Victoria Generals for their seventh win in nine contests, and they now stand two games back in the playoff race with four games remaining in the first half.

The East Texas Pump Jacks have thrust themselves into the playoff picture of late, and they continued to take care of business on the road on Friday.

The Pump Jacks cruised to a 10-2 victory against the Victoria Generals, further closing the gap in the playoff race. The Jacks reeled in their seventh win in nine contests and they are now just two games behind the Acadiana Cane Cutters for the second first-half playoff berth.

For the second-straight night, the Pump Jacks opened up an early lead in the top of the first inning. Unlike Thursday, though, East Texas pulled away late, highlighted by Niko Buentello's ninth inning home run, the first of the season for the Pump Jacks.

Brandon Grudzielanek got the night started with a leadoff single in the top of the first inning, then Joey Libby reached on an error. Buentello followed with a double that plated Grudzielanek for the first run of the game and left two runners in scoring position.

Tristan Clarke grounded out to short, driving in Libby and allowing Buentello to take third. Alex Bell followed with a sacrifice fly that allowed Buentello to rumble home for a 3-0 Pump Jacks advantage.

Starting pitcher Franklin Miller then took care of business, tossing a scoreless first frame before a sacrifice fly scored an unearned run in the second. Grudzielanek helped stunt the Victoria rally when he cut off the throw to the plate and threw to Anthony Donovan, cutting down the other Generals baserunner and ending the inning.

In the fourth, Clarke reached on an error, Bell singled, and Nick Roark grounded to second to score Clarke and put the Pump Jacks up 4-1.

The Generals sandwiched two singles around a walk in the fifth inning to score a run and trim the margin to 5-2, but that was as close as they would come. Miller stranded a runner in the sixth and nearly made it out of the seventh before giving way to Alex Lott. Miller allowed two runs, only one of them earned, in 6.2 innings to earn his first win of the season and cut his ERA to an impressive 1.90.

East Texas began to break the game open in the top of the seventh inning, when Hunter Owens kicked off the frame with a surprise bunt for a single. Donovan's sacrifice bunt was fielded by Victoria pitcher Ryan Williams, who overthrew the first baseman for an error that left runners at the corners. Grudzielanek singled home Owens and one out later, Buentello lofted a sacrifice fly that plated Donovan.

The Jacks added three more runs in the eight after Bell opened with a single and Roark doubled. An RBI base hit off the bat of Chad McKinney scored Bell, and then Roark scored on Owens' sacrifice fly. T.J. Friedl took over on the basepaths for McKinney, moved into scoring position on Donovan's groundout, and came around to score on Grudzielanek's third hit of the night.

With the score 9-2 in the ninth inning, the only remaining drama was delivered by the Pump Jacks' designated hitter. The powerful sophomore crushed a 2-0 offering over the right field fence to lead off the frame, posting the Jacks' first home run of the summer and Buentello's third RBI on the night.

Lott worked his way through the final 2.1 innings, pitching into and out of trouble in the eighth and ninth. Lott didn't allow a hit or a run, but he did walk four and struck out three.

Bell paced the offense by going 4-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Grudzielanek finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Every member of the Pump Jacks starting lineup found a way to reach base at least once on the night.

The Pump Jacks return home for a weekend series against the Texas Marshals Saturday and Sunday. After a day off Monday, the Jacks close out the first half with a critical two-game set versus the Cane Cutters Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is Kids Night presented by Traditions Restaurant & Catering, when all children 12 and under get in the ballpark for half price. That means kids can come to the game for as little as $2.50, thanks to Traditions Restaurant & Catering!

If East Texas has a successful weekend and a few other games fall into place, the Pump Jacks may have a chance to battle for a playoff spot Tuesday and Wednesday.

As always, game time in Tyler is 7:05, and gates will open at 6:00 p.m. Fans can also tune in to our live Ustream broadcast or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed.

To follow all the news during the Jacks' inaugural season in Tyler, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com . Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .



Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 27, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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