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

July 5, 2013 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


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 secured their sixth win in a row, and opened the half at the top of the standings with a 1-0 record.

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

East Texas took an early lead, posting 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.

An inning later, Mark Mathias reached first on an infield single and took second on a Woodlands throwing error. J.J. Robinson smashed a two-out double off the wall in center field to plate Mathias and give the Pump Jacks a 2-0 lead.

The lead did not last long, however, when the Strykers took over with three runs in the home half of the third. Pump Jacks starting pitcher Robert Parucha got into a jam, loading the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. Jones made a nice play on a grounder to first, throwing home to catch the lead runner for the first out of the inning. The Strykers got on the board with a single that cut the lead in half, with the bases still loaded. The Pump Jacks tried to turn a double play on a grounder to Edrington, who tossed to Brooks Marlow at second. Marlow's relay to first sailed wide, allowing two runs to score giving The Woodlands their first lead of the game, 3-2.

That is where the score remained until the seventh inning. Brooks Marlow opened the frame with a single up the middle, which ended the night for Strykers starting pitcher Matt Denton. Chase McDowell came on to pitch to Armstrong, who powered a 2-2 curve over the wall in left-center for his second home run of the season. The homer gave the Jacks a 4-3 lead, an advantage they would not relinquish the rest of the night.

The Pump Jacks added some insurance in the top of the ninth, scoring twice to pull away with the win. Brooks Marlow again led off the inning and reached base, striking out but taking 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 was able to score the final run of the game on a wild pitch to give East Texas a 6-3 advantage.

After allowing a leadoff single in the eighth, Parucha's night was done. Parucha picked up his first win of the season, pitching seven-plus innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits. He fanned seven batters and allowed only one walk. Ty Marlow entered the game in relief and picked up his second save of the season. The elder Marlow induced a double-play grounder and then another ground ball to get out of the inning. He quickly sat the Strykers down in order in the ninth, retiring all three batters including one strikeout.

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

All eyes will be East Texas 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.

To get all the news on the Pump Jacks 2013 season, including game stories and promotional updates, 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 and Twitter.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 5, 2013


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