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Jacks' Bats Bust Strykers

August 2, 2013 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


After a long six-game road trip, the East Texas Pump Jacks rolled home to Driller to pick a 9-7 win over the Woodlands Strykers. The offense came alive and J.J. Franklin pitched a commendable outing, resulting in the victory in game one of the four-game homestand.

A little home cooking was exactly what the doctor ordered, as the East Texas Pump Jacks return to Driller was a successful one with a 9-7 win over the Woodlands Strykers.

The Pump Jack offense returned to form at home, combining for 15 hits, with every member reaching base safely at least once. Matthew Dickey, Connor Huesers, and Nate Esposito led the way with three hits apiece, and Dickey was outstanding on the basepaths stealing four bases, the last his 32nd of the season, to move within one of the Pump Jack record.

J.J. Franklin had a creditable outing in his first start of the season to pick up his third win. The righty carried the Pump Jacks through seven innings while only allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits, and collecting eight strikeouts.

After the Strykers scored a solo run in the opening inning, the Jacks responded with two of their own in the home half of the frame. Dickey led off, slicing a single through the hole in right, and swiped second. Huesers followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Then with Mark Mathias at the plate, the Jacks executed a perfect double steal as Huesers took second and Dickey scampered home on the throw to second for the first run of the inning. Mathias grounded out, moving Huesers to third making it possible for Garrett McMullen's infield single to knock in Huesers and put the Jacks ahead 2-1.

East Texas tacked on three more in the third, taking advantage of defensive errors and pitching miscues. The Jacks sent nine batters to the plate starting with Huesers who reached fist via a walk.Mathias grounded a ball at the shortstop, but it was misplayed, resulting in Huesers, who was off on the pitch, hitting and second and heading for third. The centerfielder for the Strykers, Zach Davis, attempted to throw out Huesers at third, but his throw got by the third basemen and Huesers scored all the way from first on the play and Mathias ended up at second. McMullen followed and reached on an error, and Esposito singled into right to load the bases. Devon Conley and Wes Edrington showed their patience at the plate with bases loaded walks bringing home two to put the Jacks up 5-1.

The Jacks extended their lead with two more runs in the fourth. Mathias got the inning going with a single laced up the middle, and moved over to second on a balk. McMullen followed with a single through the gap and moved to second on a wild pitch, allowing Mathias to come home for the first run of the inning. McMullen crossed home on a single to left center off the bat of Esposito, to give the Jacks a 7-1 advantage.

The Stykers battled back to score two in the fifth and then two in the sixth to close the gap. In the fifth with two outs, Franklin got into a bit of trouble when he loaded the bases after allowing back-to-back singles and hitting Dirk Masters. With the count full and runners off on the pitch, Connor Kalisky softly hit a ball down the third baseline that was bobbled allowing two runners to score.

The Jacks got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from McMullen to score Edrington who walked and moved to third on back-to-back singles from Dickey and Huesers.

In the sixth, Franklin once again allowed back-to-back singles and then on a sac bunt attempt he misplayed the ball, loading the bases with no outs. Zach Davis grounded into a fielder choice, but a couple Pump Jack errors on the play allowed two runs to score and closed the gap to 8-6.

The Jacks added their final run of the game in the eighth on a beautiful double down the third base line from Dickey to complete his stellar night. Beau Day, in his first at bat of the night, worked a walk and stole second to put him in scoring position for Dickey's double.

The Stykers came knocking in the ninth, plating two runs, but Kenny Oakley shut down the threat to pick up his third save of the year to secure the Jacks 9-7 win. Oakley relieved Bret Bitow who pitched 1.1 innings allowing two runs, while also inducing a big double play to end the eighth inning with a runner on third.

The Jack finish out the two-game series with the Strykers Friday night, the fifth Fireworks Friday of the season, presented by CBS 19. The Pump Jacks will set the sky afire with a spectacular postgame fireworks display set to a unique soundtrack. Only two Fireworks Fridays remain this summer, so you don't want to miss this show!

The Pump Jacks will give fans a chance to take home game-worn memorabilia on Saturday with Shirt Off Our Back Night, presented by Republic Services. The players and coaches will be wearing special jerseys just for the evening, and every one of them can be won by fans. Some of the tops will be given away in a free raffle, and the remainder will be part of a silent auction to benefit charity. If you want to own a game-worn jersey from a potential future big leaguer, this is your chance to go home with a unique piece of Pump Jacks memorabilia.

The homestand concludes on Sunday with Sunday Fun Day, presented by theGOspot.com. Enjoy $2.50 chips and salsa or $2.50 frozen margaritas and Straw-ber-ritas for the weekend event. The Pump Jacks will even have face painting for the kids, exclusively on Sunday Fun Day presented by theGOspot.com.

Tickets for next week can be purchased online at pumpjacksbaseball.com; in person at the Pump Jacks office at 106 North Kilgore Street, #201, in downtown Kilgore; by phone at (903) 218-4638; or at the ticket office at Driller Park the night of the game.

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