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Pump Jacks Take Generals to Extra Innings

June 12, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


For the third time in a week, the East Texas Pump Jacks went into extra innings. But for the first time this season, the Pump Jacks dropped a decision in extra frames, falling to the Victoria Generals, 5-4, in 11 innings.

It was the Pump Jacks' first visit this season to Victoria and Riverside Stadium, and the team's first matchup against the Generals this year. That didn't stop East Texas from taking the game deep into the night.

Pump Jacks pitchers walked a tightrope all night long, stranding runners in scoring position in seven of the 11 innings. The East Texas staff worked out of bases-loaded jams twice, including the ninth inning.

Victoria was still able to take an early lead. Two singles and a walk in the first inning loaded the bases, then another free pass scored the first run of the game.

East Texas rallied for four runs in the third to take their first lead of the game. The Jacks loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks to Reynaldo Echenique, Taylor Bailey, and Matthew Dickey. Chris Osborne hit a grounder that first baseman Blake Cooper couldn't handle, scoring Echenique to tie the game.

Andrew Grifol scored Bailey with an RBI single that kept the bases loaded. A wild pitch plated Dickey, and a long fly ball off the bat of Bobby Webb brought home Osborne for a 4-1 lead.

The Generals answered quickly in the home half of the frame, leading off with a triple. Jacks starting pitcher Darren Lauer nearly worked out of the jam, retiring the next two hitters, before a two-out single narrowed the advantage to 4-2.

Victoria erased the lead with two seventh-inning tallies. A single and an error put the first two hitters on base, but reliever Robbie Petty picked up two outs and nearly worked out of the threat. A double off the left-field wall by Matthew Burks, though, scored two and set the stage for extra innings.

The two teams remained knotted at 4-4, although the Generals loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. John Jaeger delivered a strikeout and coaxed a weak grounder to the mound to send the game into extra innings.

The two teams remained tied until the bottom of the 11th inning, when a pair of singles and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Jaeger was able to harmlessly retire one before a Cedric Vallieres single to center ended the game.

The Pump Jacks were able to make the make the most with what the Generals pitching staff offered, scoring four runs on just three hits. Both Dickey and Grifol managed to reach base twice in the game. Former Pump Jack Ty Schlottmann kept East Texas at bay for much of the game, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out 11 in six innings of relief.

The Jacks will close out the series in Victoria Wednesday night, with the game beginning at 7: 35 p.m. Fans can follow all the action online by visiting Pump Jacks TV.

The Jacks return to East Texas for a four-game homestand beginning Thursday against the Acadiana Cane Cutters. The opener marks the return of Thirsty Thursday, when fans can beat the heat with 50-cent soft drinks and draft beers for just one dollar.

Friday will be the first Fireworks Friday of the season, presented by Patterson Kilgore and CBS 19. The Jacks will light up the night sky with a postgame fireworks extravaganza with a new soundtrack befitting the Friday the 13th date.

Saturday will be Pump Jacks Mist-N-Sip Giveaway Night, presented by GymBox Fitness and KLTV. This unique and useful water bottle has not only a spout to drink from, but a trigger to spray a fine, cooling mist. With your Mist-N-Sip courtesy of GymBox Fitness and KLTV, you can keep cool all summer with a drink and spritz! The bottles feature the Pump Jacks "Boomer Eyes" logo, and only the first 500 fans will get one, so don't be late!

The homestand will wrap up next Sunday with the return of Longview News-Journal Family Night, when fans can pick up four grandstand tickets for just $10, or four tickets and four meals for only $25.

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