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Jacks Close First Half with Valiant Effort, 8-6 Defeat

July 2, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks erased an early five-run Acadiana advantage only to see the game slip away in the late innings.

It was a bizarre night under a full moon, and despite some curious circumstances, the Jacks were in it until the very last pitch.

The Acadiana Cane Cutters defeated the East Texas Pump Jacks 8-6 Wednesday, but not before the Jacks battled back from early struggles and a 5-0 deficit to make a game of it late.

The loss ended a wet first half of the season for the TCL that saw the Pump Jacks finish with a 10-13 record, good for fourth place. Beginning Thursday, all win-loss records revert to 0-0 for the second half of the season, when two more playoff spots are up for grabs.

Enrique Perez got the start for East Texas, and it took Acadiana just three batters to score the game's first run. A leadoff double and a one-out RBI single gave the Cutters a 1-0 lead, but Perez buckled down and worked out of a bases-loaded jam to minimize the damage.

Things got weird in the top of the third inning when the Pump Jacks helped the Cane Cutters to four more runs with three errors. After the leadoff batter singled, Brandon Grudzielanek uncorked a wild throw, and then a walk loaded the bases. A potential double-play grounder eluded Grudzielanek, allowing two runs to score, and then the ball found Grudzielanek a third time and one more run came in. A sacrifice fly capped a four-run inning for the Cutters, though three of the runs were unearned.

In the home half of the third inning, Grudzielanek did his best to atone with a leadoff double. He advanced to third on a groundout, and one out later, a walk to Alex Bell put runners on the corners.

Dilon Argo came to the plate with two outs and hit a soft grounder to the shortstop, but luck was on the Jacks' side this time as Lieff Clarkson let the ball roll under his glove. Grudzielanek scored on the error, cutting the Cane Cutters' lead to 5-1.

Perez went out for his final inning of work in the top of the fourth, and retired three straight after issuing a leadoff walk.

East Texas rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to tie the game up at 5-5. Chad McKinney and Joey Libby hit back-to-back singles to start things off, and Dylan Mecham, who had subbed in for Anthony Donovan, drew a walk to load the bases. Grudzielanek doubled again, this time scoring McKinney and Libby to cut the lead in half. One out later, Niko Buentello scored two more with an opposite-field double that tied the score.

A wild pitch sent Buentello to second, and Argo worked a two-out walk to set the table for Ontario native, Tristan Clarke. Clarke had a chance to bring in the go-ahead run on Canada Day, but was robbed of a base hit from Connor Short at third base to end the inning.

Joe Bernhard relieved Perez to start the fifth and gave up a single and a walk to the first two batters. McKinney made a nice play on a bunt down the third base line, scooping it barehanded and firing it third for the first out. Grudzielanek, who moved to second base to begin the fourth inning, delivered an errant throw to first on a potential double play ball that allowed a run to score and put Acadiana on top again, 6-5.

Jimmy Johnson came on for Bernhard to start the sixth and retired the first two batters before a single, a stolen base, and another single pushed the Acadiana lead to 7-5.

The Jacks answered in the bottom of the sixth when Jake Nash led off with a single. He advanced to second on a walk and third on a grounder, then scored on a Buentello RBI single.

Both teams were scoreless in the seventh, but Johnson was unable to get through his third inning of work without conceding another run.

Trailing 8-6 in the eighth, the Pump Jacks put a runner into scoring position when Bell singled and advanced on a passed ball, but East Texas couldn't take advantage of the opportunity.

Tyler Adams pitched a clean 1-2-3 ninth inning to hold the Cutters at bay, but East Texas was unable to manufacture a rally in its final frame at the plate.

Buentello finished the night 2-for-5 with three RBI, and Grudzielanek went 2-for-3 night with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored despite his defensive woes. Libby also enjoyed a multi-hit game with a pair of singles in four at-bats.

The Pump Jacks head on the road for a pair of games at the Texas Marshals Thursday and Friday, then spend the July 4th weekend visiting the Cane Cutters.

Following the 2015 TCL All-Star Game on July 7 in Victoria, the Jacks return home July 9 and 10 for a two-game series against the Woodlands Strykers.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks first Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. All adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozies presented by Miller Lite, and soft drinks will be discounted to $2 each for the entire night. So beat the heat with the Pump Jacks and Miller Lite next Thursday for Thirsty Thursday!

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, presented by Brookshire's, 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.

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