Pump Jacks Break Losing Streak, Beat Aces

Published on July 16, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Sometimes, when a team is mired in a stretch of lost baseball games, the perfect antidote for it is to counter with the ace of their pitching staff.

The Pump Jacks followed that line of thinking and rode six strong innings from Kyle Kubat to a 4-2 victory over the Alexandria Aces on the road at Bringhurst Field. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for East Texas, their longest of the summer.

Both teams had runners on base early against starters Kubat (who was starting for the Jacks for the first time in the second half of the season) and Tyler Vail. But both starters were able to work out of trouble in the first three innings, stranding a combined nine runners on base. Kubat also added five strikeouts in the first three frames.

The Pump Jacks broke through in the fourth inning. With one out, Blair DeBord and Charlie Wagner worked back-to-back walks, and on the seventh pitch of his at-bat, Logan Preston smacked a triple to left-center field to bring both runners home for a 2-0 Pump Jacks lead. Kevin O'Leary then picked up an RBI by scoring Preston on a ground ball to shortstop to make the score 3-0 in favor of East Texas.

The Aces were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out walk by Sergio Cruz proved to be key, as the next batter, Rene' Moreda, homered to left to cut the Jacks' lead to 3-2.

However, the Pump Jacks scored again in the seventh inning against reliever Will Abbott to extend their lead. R.J. Santigate led off with a walk, and John Williams followed with a single to put runners at first and second. Taylor Murphy then continued his hot recent stretch of hitting with a single to right field. The throw from the right fielder David Zorn was on target to the plate to get Santigate trying to score for the first out, but Williams and Murphy moved up to second and third on the throw.

That ended up being crucial, as in the next at-bat, the Aces tried to intentionally walk Kash Kalkowski. The first intent ball sailed past the catcher and back to the screen, scoring Williams while making the score 4-2 Jacks.

After that, head coach Ben Taylor went to his all-star bullpen, and the "Three Amigos" did not disappoint. Jeff Stovall struck out two in one perfect inning in the seventh, while Gerardo Esquivel tossed a scoreless eighth while working around two baserunners. That set things up for Jason Jester in the ninth, and he shut the door as he has done all year long, striking out two for his 15th save of the season and extending his own TCL single-season record.

Murphy led the Jacks at the plate, going 3-for-4 out of the number three spot in the order, while Preston picked up two RBI in going 1-for-4. Williams and DeBord each went 1-for-3 in the game with a run scored.

Kubat (4-0) was great for the Pump Jacks, surrendering only three hits and two runs while walking three and striking out five in his outing to earn the win. His opponent, Vail (2-2), went six innings and took the loss for the Aces.

East Texas returns home on Tuesday night against the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Family Night. Families of four can experience the excitement of Pump Jacks baseball for only $10, and can add meal vouchers to their tickets including a hot dog, a bag of chips and a soft drink for just $15 more.

The next night is another Western Wednesday, featuring barbeque nachos and Ziegenbock beer at the concession stand when the Jacks host the Brazos Valley Bombers. Two nights later is another Fireworks Friday at Driller Park, with a postgame fireworks show set to a unique soundtrack presented by SWEPCO and CBS-19 when East Texas faces the Victoria Generals.

First pitch for each game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 16, 2012


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