20/06/2009 12:26
Box Score
On Thursday, the East Texas Pump Jacks proved they could outslug the Coppell Copperheads. Friday night, the Jacks demonstrated they can win the close ones too, edging the visiting Copperheads for a 3-2 victory.
The win was their third straight and maintained the Pump Jacks first-place lead over the Victoria Generals.
Unlike Thursday, when Coppell scored first before the Jacks erupted en route to a 10-5 win, the Pump Jacks took the early lead Friday night.
East Texas grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Ryan Oesterle that scored Matt Juengel. Juengel led off the second with a walk, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cody Morrison. One out later, Oesterle delivered a looping single to center for the game’s first run.
The Pump Jacks played small ball again in the third, and got a little help from the visitors. Mike Petello led off with a single. When Alex Robinson dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance Petello, the throw to first was wild, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Greg Fontenot followed with a successful sacrifice that moved both runners up a base. A sac fly off the bat of Brett Nicholas scored Petello for a 2-0 East Texas lead.
The Jacks extended the lead in the fifth inning. Robinson earned a leadoff walk and stole second. Fontenot followed with a walk, but he was erased on a fielder’s choice that put runners at the corners. Juengel lined a single to center to score Robinson, an insurance run that proved to be valuable come game’s end.
The fifth inning was the fourth straight frame in which Coppell allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base. The Pump Jacks scored in three of the four innings.
While the offense was cruising, East Texas pitcher Matt Click was cruising. Fresh off seven shutout innings against the McKinney Marshals in his last start, Click kept the Copperheads scoreless for the first five innings. A leadoff double in the sixth and a groundout put a Coppell runner at third and spelled the end of the night for Click. Abel Gonzales came on and allowed a sacrifice fly to trim the lead to 3-1.
Click (2-0) earned the win, giving up the one earned run on four hits in 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Gonzales pitched a scoreless seventh and Chad Sherman did the same in the eighth. Ian Schwalenberg surrendered a run in the ninth but picked up his first save of the season.
At the plate, Coppell actually outhit the Pump Jacks, 8-7. Juengel went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Morrison added two hits of his own.
On Saturday night, the Jacks welcome the defending-champion Marshals with Cash-Back Saturday. The Pump Jacks will actually be giving away money at the gate, with prizes guaranteed to the first 250 fans who enter historic Driller Park. Fans can win Boomer Bucks and Derrick Dollars, which can be used for purchases in the ballpark, and a select number of fans will win cold, hard cash. Other prizes will be given away throughout the evening, too… but you have to be at the ballpark to win!
The homestand closes on Sunday with Family Night, the best entertainment and food value in East Texas. On this and every Sunday home game, four grandstand tickets will cost just $12, a savings of as much as 40%. Fans will also have the option of purchasing a meal package with their tickets, bringing the total for all four guests, including both tickets and meals, to only $25. Discounts like these certainly appeal to families – or maybe just friends looking to come to the ballpark and save a few bucks. You can’t find a better deal on food and fun anywhere in East Texas!
“Best Dad in East Texas”: The Jacks would like to remind fans about their “Best Dad in East Texas” contest that launched Saturday. The Pump Jacks are giving away four lower box seat tickets, meals for all four fans, and a ceremonial first pitch to the best dad in East Texas for Father’s Day.
To enter, a family should submit a short (50-word) entry as to why his or her father is the “Best Dad in East Texas”. Entries can be submitted by e-mail to contest@pumpjacksbaseball.com; by mail to P.O. Box 2369, Kilgore, TX 75662; or by dropping it off at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore.
Tickets for Sunday’s game and the remainder of the Jacks’ 2009 season schedule are on sale now. Fans may purchase tickets at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online – and printed at home on any home printer – by visiting www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. |
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