Pump Jacks Celebrate the 4th with a 6-3 Win

Published on July 4, 2013 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The fireworks were on the field as Joey Armstrong blasted his second home run of the season to help lead the Pump Jacks to a 6-3 win on the Fourth of July in the Woodlands.

The East Texas Pump Jacks started off the second half of the season with a bang, defeating the Woodlands Strykers 6-3 on Wednesday. With the win the Pump Jacks secure their sixth win in a row, and move to the top of the leader board with 1-0 record in the second half.

It was bombs away on the Fourth of July, as the Pump Jacks rallied in late innings for the win, propelled by a home run from Joey Armstrong in the seventh.

East Texas took an early lead, adding a run in both the second and third innings. In the top of the second Beau Day hit a seeing-eye single into left, and Zach Jones followed with a single of his own. Day crossed home on a double lofted down the left field line from Wes Edrington. Edrington added a single in the sixth to record his fourth multi-hit game in a row.

Then in the third, Mark Mathias reached first on an infield single and skidded over to second on a Woodlands throwing error. J.J. Robinson blasted a two-out double off the wall in straight away center to plate Mathias and give the Pump Jacks a 2-0 lead.

However the lead did not last long, as the Strykers added three runs in the very next inning. The Pump Jacks got into a bit of trouble after two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Jones made a nice play, throwing to home on a ground out to catch the lead runner for the first out of the inning. But the Strykers then took advantage of the loaded bases situation with a single to cut the lead in half. A fielder's choice ended up plating two runs after an error by Brooks Marlow allowed the go-ahead run to score and giving the Woodlands their first lead of the game, 3-2.

That is where the game would remain until the seventh inning. Brooks Marlow opened the frame with a singled lined up the middle. The single chased starter Matt Denton, and Strykers' head coach John Villareal called on Chase McDowell to replace him. McDowell's first batter was Armstrong and on a 2-2 count Armstrong got a hold of a curve ball and powered it over the left center wall for his second home run of the season, regaining the lead for the Pump Jacks, 4-3.

The Pump Jacks added some insurance in the top of the ninth, adding two runs to pull away with the win. Brooks Marlow once again led of the inning this time he struck out but was able to advance to first on a wild pitch. Reigning Warstic TCL Player of the Week, Mitch Meyer laced a double into right to score Marlow, and advanced to third on the throw to home. Meyer then crossed home for the final run of the game on a wild pitch, to give East Texas a 6-3 advantage.

After allowing a lead off single in the eighth, starting pitcher Robert Parucha's night was done. Parucha picked up his first win of the season, pitching seven plus innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, while only issuing one walk and fanning seven batters. Ty Marlow entered the game to relieve and picked up his second save of the season. In the eighth Marlow was able to induce a ground ball for a double play, and then another ground ball to get out of the inning. Then in the ninth Marlow worked quickly, retiring all three batters in order including one strikeout.

The Pump Jacks look for the sweep, as they finish off the two-game series with the Woodlands Strykers Friday night, and then head on the road for another two-game set with the Texas Marshals.

Then all eyes are on Driller for the 2012 TCL All-Star Game next Tuesday July 9th. Future major leaguers will descend on historic Driller Park for the first TCL All-Star Game hosted by the Pump Jacks. Pregame festivities include a home run derby, which will include representatives from each of the six teams, as well as an all-star autograph session.

Tickets for the TCL All-Star Game can be purchased online at pumpjacksbaseball.com, in person at the Pump Jacks office at 106 North Kilgore Street, #201, in downtown Kilgore, or at the ticket office at Driller Park the night of the game.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 4, 2013


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